Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the April 6th Rules Committee meeting.

We'll get started with introductions.

And uh let's please start with Mr.

Dennis.

Good afternoon, Garrett Dennis administration.

Colleen Hamsey, Council Research.

Harley Shell, Office of General Counsel.

Philip Peterson, Council Auditor's Office.

Kenamara, City Council, District One.

Randy White, District Will.

Chris Miller at large group five.

Ron Salem, group two at large.

Mike Gay District Two.

Good afternoon, Michael Boylan, District Six.

Nick Howland at large group three, just visiting.

Will Lane and District Three visiting.

Joe Carlucci, District Five, just visiting.

Thank you, everyone.

Welcome again.

And I just wanted to say up front, um, we passed out order of agenda items.

So all the members have that, and we will we will follow that, but before we go to the first item there, um, I'm gonna ask, do we have any uh public comment cards?

Have we received any looks like we may have another one coming too?

Thank you.

Uh first up is uh Mr.

John Nooney to come forward.

You have three minutes.

All right.

Hello.

I am John J.

Noone.

Jacksonville City Council Resolution 2023 0819.

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

And uh first, I just wanna start by you know congratulating, you know, uh Mr.

Peterson, you know, is just at the previous meeting, and I want to be one of the first on the record.

Congratulations and the council auditors uh with Kim Taylor, Mr.

Peterson, an unbelievable team.

Uh also, you know, uh with the agenda rules, you know, uh course, you know.

I just um you know that yeah, there are a number of different pieces of legislation, you know, uh agenda item one, agenda item two, you know, but you know, just going through it, uh nine, eleven, you know, we've got uh 15 and you know uh yeah, I'm just down to a minute 50, but with rules, this is what I want to get on the record.

And you know, there's an urban core CPAC meeting later today, you know, uh ethics.

You know, I went to an ethics commission meeting and I asked.

We have six CPACs representing the entire city of Jacksonville.

We have the mayor's disability council, we have the council on elder affairs, you know, the senior citizen gang.

Why is OGC, the Office of General Council, not represented at these meetings?

And it should be alarming for this legislative body as well as the executive branch.

And you know, I'm just down to a minute.

And you know, so when you talk about any piece of legislation, you know, with the rules, and then you do bring in the Office of General Counsel, you know, it's guidance, you know, and it's uh it's a moral compass that we just need to be following.

Uh I also, you know, with the legislation.

I've got to just touch on 2025 0867.

That's the joint meeting between the Duval County Public Schools and City of Jacksonville, and I have to give it to our incoming president, you know, Nick Holland.

I mean, this is brilliant legislation, and it has to do with our CIP.

That's the capital improvement projects, you know, classrooms in Pottsburg.

And you know, uh, I'm just down to 20 seconds, but when it comes to the rules with our charter and public schools and the rules, public access on our waterways, it should be one of the biggest priorities.

FWC Fish Wildlife Commission.

Well, fishing with council.

Thank you for listening.

Thanks, Mr.

Nooney.

Next up is Ms.

Harris, please.

Latavia Harris address on file.

I was here earlier by accident.

Sorry, guys.

Again, a group, the pretty much whole council came together for the CBA.

We did a very good job, you know, going through it, making sure the community is protected.

It's just part of the process that did not include the community, which is us seeing exactly the people that put in the applications.

There was no definite start and stop time, letting applicants know, hey, this is the day it starts, it's when it stops.

Some of the appointees is not all the way, it's not personal, but they have more than problem well, issue with collusion with Lyft Jacks, and that's one of the things, not Lyft Jacks as a whole, but just making sure the board member was made of community.

Um for instance, we have Dr.

Jameson.

Uh, the issue I personally have with Dr.

Jameson, he met with the young ladies that stayed in our first and seventh street apartments.

He met with them a year prior to us even starting it together, East Side.

These young ladies told him the conditions they were living in, and he met with them as the human rights director and did nothing.

Did absolutely nothing to be on this board.

Yes, he does live in the community, but then all of a sudden, Mr.

Matchett comes in, we get code enforcement to come through, the stuff happens, and that's the purpose of the human rights director, but he also has the secretary to lift jacks.

As Jake Stoven showed you guys that he has not stepped down.

Ariana Randolph is the executive director of Project One Health with Lyft Jacks.

Cleve Warren, I'm sure, and some of these people we don't even know how they knew about the board.

Cleve Warren was also on the first 501c3.

They had him put on.

Now he's on this board.

He does not, I'm not saying he doesn't come in the community or go to church, but he does, he's not in the community.

Again, we have no youth on this community.

When we speak on significant business interests, Mr.

Larry Schrank is what we're looking for when we say significant.

He owns a business out east, he employs people from out east.

All of the likes that you see on A.

Philip Randolph, Larry Schrank did those.

Didn't cost the city a dime, didn't cost the community a dime.

Anything the community needs, whether it's hot dogs, hamburgers, he does it without ever wanting his name.

That is what we consider to be significant business interests.

You're there and you're helping.

Ms.

Rochelle Stuttered, we know the business is out east.

We haven't confirmed has that she hired from out east, but she does not participate in the community.

Kim Black also received her home with Project Boots and associate with Lyft Jacks.

So a lot of these people don't even deal in the community.

Sean Ashley clearly states he has nine properties he's looking to develop.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Harris.

Next is Mr.

Sanchez, please.

My name is Dennis Sanchez, and my address is on file.

And we spent many months, um, and even city council spent many months trying to build the ordinance that would actually serve the community.

We were able to get something which is the opioid model, which is what we're discussing now.

And in there, even we had one of the councilmen, councilman Raul Arias even mentioned that he wanted the members to be of the community to be representing the actual community.

Unfortunately, that's not what we're seeing.

And most of the board members that were actually chosen here, like um like colleague uh Latavia Harris has mentioned, they have more business interest, and even though they're highly accredited, um, it's more business interest, but not much of actual community um involvement, community um interest in general.

So that's been a major issue.

In fact, there's been resumes, there's been people that applied where we've had issues where the links for the internet uh wouldn't function.

So many people didn't even know what was going on, how they would even submit their applications.

Um the transparency effect was not effective between uh city council and the community.

So it seemed more like city council was selecting who they want as opposed to what the community wanted, which is in opposition to what was promised from city council when this was actually brought up and spent months trying to get this done when the goal was to get money in there into the community as soon as possible.

So there's four million dollars there right now, and we're still discussing board members that were not appropriately selected to actually represent the community.

So in addition to that, we we do talk about members that are chosen and why they're chosen, as to what reiterating to what Ms.

Harris mentioned, you have somebody like Ruth Jameson who's proven ineffective and who's actually we're showing that this the conflict of interest is actually very clear.

Because how is it that somebody that's has dinner with actual tenants, um nothing happens as a result of something that he's responsible for, and then you get somebody that Mr.

Matchett goes out there and actually does something, and then you court enforcement with actual citations within weeks.

So that right there tells you, okay, highly accredited and effective, or is it conflict of interest?

And that's something we need to take into consideration whether he's gonna step down from Lyft Jack's board or not.

And then you have somebody else like Ariana, who's also another one that's uh been chosen who's on Lyft Jacks.

So these are the people that we were the opposition, and now they're still being on the board to be considered.

Thank you, sir.

And our last speaker is Mr.

Matchett, please.

James Matchett address on file.

Uh, there's a couple of people that said the young lady wasn't at the back, so they didn't get a card to fill out, and a couple of them that got cards they're filling out.

Um addresses on file.

Um they pretty much have have stated it.

What we have here is a breach of trust.

Um the community now is left with a perception of collusion, and I know everybody's tired of this process and just want to get it going.

I got it.

We all with it.

But we get one chance to do it right.

So let's do it right coming out of the box.

And that's all we're asking for.

You know, everybody wants to frame this as a fight over this, a fight over that, and that's nothing but the truth.

We've asked from the beginning, and that's why we were glad to see this model being adopted, is for overight, accountability, transparency, and community involvement.

When we look at the community involvement aspect, we have two people that shows up as good picks.

That they are people who have been doing things in the community over a long period of time.

And we're not trying to tell you that we don't like these because it's a personality conflict.

We're telling you because it's a conflict of interest.

They cited those things to show you why the perception in the community is what it is.

We have program in the in the community that's not doing well at this time, and part of that is their connection with this group.

We are vested in seeing this succeed, and we're we're trying to tell anyone who would listen that this group has a perception in the community where most of the people in the community don't even want to be involved with them.

And that's evidence when you look at the performance of the uh little devs, though.

If you read the highlights, you think, well, hey, it's doing good.

But when you actually go out there and look at it in practicality, it's really not.

So when when looking at these, we will we want you to consider that these people while credentialed, while have credential, are not really revered by the people in the community.

And I'm not talking about this board who y'all have been seeing down here in these meetings.

We're talking about the people who come to the meetings that we have and say, hey, this person ain't showed up.

One of them there is a nurse that really does not have a residence out there.

So the pillars that was put down that say this is what you would choose from, those are not even being here.

So then that's that breach of trust again.

So now the community is fighting for their voice to be heard all over again.

Thank you, Mr.

Matchett.

Um, do we have do we have others?

Um you had mentioned there were others that wanted to speak.

We can make sure we get the cards filled out after if you'd like to go ahead and speak now.

Uh if you just state your name and address for the record, please.

Leslie Jean Barr and my address will be on file.

Um, as some of you know, I represented together Eastide Coalition Inc.

in our effort to get this legislation passed.

And in the words of the inspector general, fraud, waste, and abuse.

That was the model that was put in place originally before Councilman Salem's substitute came in.

Which group was pushing that model?

The model that was a recipe for disaster.

The same group that has an overabundance of influence on the nominations that you have before you.

So we did a great job of making sure that this was going to be a fiscally responsible, community-driven legislation.

And now the vehicle may have changed, but the destination is the same.

We're right back where we were, where we did not want to be.

Thank you.

Do we have anyone else?

Good afternoon, Don Curling.

Address on file.

Just felt as though the process wasn't fair, as though we spoke about in the prior CBA meetings that we were having.

So it was supposed to come back to the community once these people were picked for the community to vet them as well, and then make a decision based off of that.

We don't even know what happened with the resumes of individuals who had submitted.

There were no communications between the community and the process.

The benchmark is James Edwards.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Okay, thank you all.

Um I had one more thing I wanted to add before we go.

We're actually gonna do things dip a little bit differently on the front end because Councilmember Lane won't be able to be with us for our next rules committee meeting when a couple of his bills will be taken up.

And so I'm giving him the opportunity up front to be able to give us his input on those bills so that when when they come before us after the second read today, when they come before us, we'll have heard from him and have an opportunity to speak.

But before I go to him, I just want to give them the the notice to get ready.

Um I did want to comment and let everyone know on items number nine and eleven, you'll see them marked as deferred.

That's 2026 0192 and 0203, the appointment of Randy Wise and the reappointment of General Joe De Salvo.

Uh just wanted to give you a little bit before we go into the the full meeting um agenda about that.

I just wanted to um give you a little bit behind my thinking there.

As you all know, there's a lot going on.

To say there's a lot going on with JEA right now is uh is uh uh gross understatement.

Um there's a lot going on internally with their leadership with surveys, as well as from city council's special committee perspective.

Um there's even some things going on and at other levels and other agencies here locally regarding different actions, some appointments and other things that have occurred.

So my mind as the rules chair, I thought it was smart, prudent for us to tap the brakes.

Let's slow down a little bit and not affect the changes of leadership until we know a little bit more about what's going on, until we know more from those surveys.

We know more from an investigation that's going on.

Um I think it's just smart for us to just slow down a little bit.

Let's get some of those things better known by us as a body and individually before we take up actions that affect that organization because these actions and how we're informed by the activities that are going on right now may better inform us to make better informed decisions going forward.

So I just wanted to let you know overall what my thinking was there and why those two have been marked uh for deferral.

Uh so at this time we're gonna go to uh the first item that I talked about, Councilmember Lane uh to speak on the bill.

And it's yeah, sure.

If you if you'd like to.

Thank you, Chair.

I I've heard your comments and I respect your desire to defer.

If we're waiting on the investigation and or survey, I think those could be weeks away.

Several weeks, uh, in order to get that type of information.

So do you see this as a a one-cycle deferral or do you see this as a continuing deferral until we get the information that we need.

Thank you.

Yes.

Um I for right now, one cycle.

Um that's my intent.

And then and then we see what we get from the actions and some of which you're directly involved in.

Um so I don't see this as we're we're putting this off for an unforeseen uh amount of time.

Um for right now, it's I'm putting this on a one-cycle deferral.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Any anyone else any comments?

I want to make sure I I don't want to go through what we'll go through when we actually take them up, um, but I still want to give you the opportunity if you have any comments uh to make.

Thank you.

Um Councilmember Boylan.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

To the chair, I I appreciate your wisdom in deferring this, and I would encourage that you continue to defer until such time we have some resolution to the matters at hand.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um anyone else, I I saw visiting member Carlucci was on the QA still.

Yes, please.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, and that's kind of what I wanted to come down here and just um speak about.

Uh I agree with uh with the deferral on that.

I right now personally I I do have more questions than answers.

Um however, I know uh Mr.

Wise is here and I have full confidence in him.

It's it's a little bit of what process we're also undergoing right now, and we're undergoing a lot of different processes.

There's a lot going on with our investigation, JEA's board, this, that, and the other.

So um I appreciate the extra time.

Um it it may take more than one cycle, we just don't know until things continue to unfold.

But um, but I'm gonna be using that time to get my answers uh to the questions I have.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Uh yes, Council Vice President Howland, please.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I want to echo uh Mr.

Carlucci's comments.

I absolutely support your decision to defer these uh two nominations.

I think um, as Mr.

Carlucci said, there's a lot going on at JEA right now, several issues.

I think none of them insurmountable.

Um, but there's a lot of drama right now.

I I think we should make decisions when we can cut the drama out and decide based on facts and evidence.

And uh right now is not the time to take up these two nominations.

Thanks.

Thank you.

We have past president white also in the queue.

You recognize yes, sir.

I'll just like to put on the record of the two appointees.

You all probably know the one I'm close to, and I just want to put on the record, I'm sure this has nothing to do with Mr.

Wise.

He's just caught up in a time where there is a lot of stuff going on.

And I wanted to put on that on the record, because I am a co-sponsor for him, and I wanted to put that as a statement.

Thank you.

I absolutely for what it's worth, a hundred percent agree with what you just said.

Um so next to Councilmember Gay, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I I want to echo some of the comments here, and I think it's wise to uh just slow it down and and let's navigate through it uh efficiently and effectively.

Uh but I do have full uh confidence in Mr.

Wise's uh abilities to uh be on this board, so it's no reflection on him or whatsoever, but uh I think uh it's wise for us just to take our time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um for the second time, uh Councilmember Boylan.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I too I want I I should have mentioned it my first time around.

I had a conversation with Mr.

Wise.

I totally support him, but it's it's a cloud right now.

And I let him know three weeks ago I was not support, I would support a deferral of his nomination until such time all these matters were cleared.

So we did have that conversation.

He was very gracious in his response.

Not surprisingly for all of us to hear him say, hey, whatever you guys decide, I'm going for it.

I'm here to help.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you all.

Um with that, we'll move forward to Councilmember Lennon to address first uh 2026 0213, which is on page eight, item number 15.

Yeah, thank you, Chair.

And you mentioned the beginning, uh I know in advance I will not be able to make the next rules meeting, so I didn't want these to be deferred either.

Uh but the first item 15, uh 2026 213.

I am gonna have a notice meeting on this in case anyone wants to go more in depth on that.

That nose meeting hasn't been sound uh sent out yet, but it'll be next Friday at 9.

Uh, this should be relatively uh uh no controversy on this one.

Uh Chair, you had the bill uh that governed how we will budget uh unbudgeted completion grants when we get into the budget year.

This is governing uh 106.106, which has to do with the uh it's it's called the balance budget and budget stabilization reserve.

Uh in there, there's a requirement that any excess revenue we have to have a certain operating reserve target of five to seven percent.

We usually hit that.

This is saying anything above seven percent previously had no guidance on it.

This is saying if we're above seven percent and we still have excess revenue, we will then look at it calls us something way more fancy in here, but basically cash completion grants.

We've done a great job at shipping away at our cash completion grant obligation uh obligation this year.

This is now saying that each year when we do this process, okay, our operating reserves are at seven percent, the high end of that range, instead of then having it kind of flow down to whatever recapture process, or we've used the term money grab.

This is saying the second priority is our unfunded cash completion grant obligations, and then whatever's free after that will go through the normal recapture process.

Uh, but again, I'll have more information on this at a notice meeting next Friday at 9 a.m.

Uh the second one, even less controversial is the uh item 24, 2026 234.

Uh that's the Providence Boys basketball team winning the state title.

They boarded the bus on the uh the east side of district three, went all the way to the west side of district three at UNF and won their state title.

So uh it's my only high school I have in my district, so uh proud of them and uh hoping to uh help celebrate that achievement with them.

Great, and thank you very much.

Okay, well, we'll next go to oh yes, we have a question by past president Salem.

Thank you, Chair.

Through the chair to Mr.

Lane and on the on the uh reserve one, are you looking at the General Reserve and the emergency reserve?

Through the chair to Dr.

Salem.

No, this only governs the operating reserve, which is the five to seven percent range.

Uh the emergency reserves we usually take care of separately at the beginning of the budget process.

So we felt there wasn't really a need to spell out the operating reserve high end, or I'm sorry, the emergency reserve, because we take care of that ourselves usually at the beginning of the budget process.

So only the operating reserves are specifically mentioned in this ordinance.

One other question.

I'm hoping we get away from completion grants.

If there are no completion grants to complete, where would the dollars go?

So through the chair to Dr.

Salem.

The only way money would go into this, it actually creates a new subfund.

And as you know, Mr.

Peterson as well as the administration, they track what the outstanding commitment is.

So it would never go above that number to begin with.

In other words, if we know, hey, we started the year, I think, with something like 60 million next year in completion grants, it's less than half of that now.

The numbers never gonna go more than what we've already signed ourselves up for.

And we've had legislation, both Councilmember Carlucci, Howland, others have had legislation as there's been excess funds come available.

We put that towards completion grants.

So those are considered budgeted.

This would only be for what has not had money specifically put against it, so we would never get above what our outstanding uh liability was.

Maybe I didn't make my question clear.

If there are no completion grants to put this money towards, let's say it's two or three years from now, and we have no completion grants, and there is money above that percentage.

Do you have provisions where that money would go?

Through the chair.

Let me go with the auditors on that.

I I feel like that's an unlikely scenario though, because the only way that would happen, and Mr.

Pearson can correct me if I'm wrong.

This we would essentially have to double budget for completion grants.

In other words, through this process, we would put money towards shipyards at 25 million.

We would then only not use that money if we decided to switch the funding source after the fact.

Uh through the chair to Mr.

Peterson, I I think I answered that correctly, but I'll let you chime in on this.

Through the chair to Councilmember Salem and Councilmember Lane.

The he his answer is correct.

I think the short answer is it would just stay in operating reserves.

Okay.

Thank you.

And through the chair, Dr.

Salem completely agree on the completion grants.

It was actually one year ago that my quote, I really make the front page, but my quote, cash incentive cliff was on the front page of the Jacks Daily Record that week.

And uh we've done a great job, especially the finance committee, on chipping away at that.

And my hope, as we've chipped away from our future uh liabilities, we don't just build it back up.

We need to find a better model that isn't just a check that we give when a project's done.

Good discussion.

Thank you both for that.

Uh we'll go next to Councilmember Omar.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Through the chair to Mr.

Peterson, Mr.

Layman.

Um, how many times have we gone above seven percent?

Through the chair to Councilmember Morrow, um I'm gonna be drawing on some history, but I believe in the late 2010, 1617 is when we really started making progress in our reserves.

Now we are at uh roughly 17 to 18 percent.

Um so we're well above that seven percent.

Um but uh one thing, Councilmember Lennon also didn't mention that is another protection of this bill is we will stay at the 2024 unassigned fund balance, which is roughly 369 million.

So there's that it's a double protection.

We will not go below the 369 million or 7 percent.

It you have to meet both qualifications.

So the reserve levels, if we are not above that 369, nothing would go towards this completion grant.

It would only when we surpass that dollar amount.

Yes, uh Councilmember Lennon, you recognize thank you, Chair.

So through the chair to the committee, I said I was gonna have a notice meeting to discuss this in more detail.

We have discussed it at the level of detail I plan to at that notice meeting.

So if it's okay, that meeting was going to be solely for the rules committee.

If y'all are comfortable with what you've heard so far, I won't set up that notice meeting for next week because it sounds like everyone's pretty comfortable with this.

Thank you for that.

I I think I see a consensus here.

So that's that's good.

And thank you, uh, Councilmember Lennon for this bill, this led legislation.

It's just another example, and you mentioned some of them of us uh being more predictable, but also um being more fiscally responsible.

And I think um given what great work the auditors have done to give us good clear current projections of what's coming up, uh, the more we can put guardrails in place that help guide all of our efforts on both our side of the government as well as the administration, the better this will all be.

So thank you very much for that.

Uh we'll now go through our series of appointments here.

So we'll start on page five, item number six, and that's 2026 0158.

May I have a motion?

A motion and second on the bill.

Is Mr.

Jones here, please?

Matthew Jones.

Yes, he is.

I saw him in the elevator earlier today.

Would you please state your name and address for the record?

And then tell us a little bit about yourself and why you think you're a good fit for the Waterways Commission.

Sure.

Matthew Jones, 7907 Jamaica Road North, 32216.

Um good afternoon.

Thank you for having me through the chair to the body.

My apologies for missing last month.

My father of five, and we had a pre-booked vacation, family vacation for spring break.

I've got a 13-year-old left, and I'm trying to soak all of her up.

I can there'll be a day where I'm not cool enough to hang out with her.

So I've been a lifelong resident of Jacksonville for almost 54 years.

I have for the majority of my life been very passionate and devoted to the beautiful waters of our city.

I truly believe that St.

John's River and the Intercoastal are both one of our city's most valuable natural assets for the millions of people that enjoy them annually.

I wholeheartedly feel that we as a community absolutely must be good stewards of these resources for many generations after us to be able to enjoy as we do.

Whether it's a comforting boat ride down the river, enjoying seeing bottlenose doll and playing in the river, as I do this frequently, or planning for an action-packed adventures day on the water fishing.

It's every citizen of Duval County's responsibility to leave nature just as beautiful as you found her, if not better.

And I strongly believe in better.

I look forward to doing whatever I can to assist in any way possible to help make this happen.

As a current sitting and past president of a local HOA board, I take keeping our community and resources safe, healthy, and prosperous for everyone to be able to enjoy.

In my role with a locally owned Goodyear tire chain for the past 15 years, I work very closely with the FWC officers and staff.

We as Florida residents have a lot to be proud of, and part of being a true Floridian, at least in my opinion, is being able to enjoy so many wonderful natural resources we've got at our disposal.

Thank you to the body for your consideration.

Thank you.

We'll first go to uh visiting council member Carlucci, please.

Okay, great.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Hey Matt, good to see you.

Uh local district five business guy here.

Usually I see him when I've got car problems.

But it's good to see you here otherwise.

I just wanted to offer my support.

I've known Matt for gosh, probably good decade or something, just because I've been going to a shop for so long.

But um want to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thanks for putting your name forward, getting out there.

Um you're the perfect pick for this.

And uh hopefully we can get you plugged in and other boards too, because I think you you're you're gonna show really good work there.

So thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

We'll next go to Councilmember Amaro, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Mr.

Jones, I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for putting yourself forward and for your appreciation of the St.

Johns River and your understanding of its value because as uh sitting on waterways uh I come across where just some folks just don't uh uh understand the value of the St.

Johns River.

Uh I do believe that your voice uh will make a significant uh uh shift or balance, if you will, and and help us not only shape uh the future of the river, but also protect this very, very valuable resource.

So I just want to say thank you for putting yourself forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, pass President Freeman, please.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair, and through the chair uh to Mr.

Jones.

One, thank you for putting yourself forward.

Definitely understand and can relate to the girl dad scenario.

You're absolutely right.

We want to continue to get those hugs as long as we can.

Father four daughters, so I get that.

Um my assistant said that uh she sent an email out to you uh with a few questions that I I normally ask everyone.

Uh if you have not received that, then my assistant's sitting over there.

We can either schedule a call and we can handle it by phone or in person, but I usually try to accommodate everyone's schedule by just going through those questions.

So if you don't mind getting those to me before Tuesday, I'm gonna be in support of it today, but uh strangers or friends, I've made everyone go through the same process on my whole time being on rules committees, and so I want to make sure I stay consistent.

All right, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Seeing no one else in the queue, I'd like to be added as co-sponsor, please.

And please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven YA's, zero and nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0158.

And uh Mr.

Jones, I just want to mention to you and anyone else who is about ready to come forward after you as far as our appointees go.

Next Tuesday night, we will recognize everyone who is stepping forward to serve the city in these various uh appointed roles.

And so if you're able to make it, just know at the beginning of the meeting, we'll recognize you and and the others, uh, but it's not mandatory.

We just want to make you aware of that.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next, we'll go to page five, same page, uh, item number eight, 2026 0191.

We have a motion and a second on the bill is Ms.

Bowman here, please.

Ms.

Bowman.

Good morning, everyone.

Can you hear me?

Oh, yes, we can hear you.

I'm sorry, I got an ear infection, so I can't hardly hear myself.

Sorry about that.

Um, my name is Chrysta Bowman, and it's pronounced Chrysla.

C H R Y S T A.

My grandmother got the I and I got the Y.

Okay.

Okay.

But I prefer to be called Angel because y'all not gonna pronounce it correctly.

Well, and your address, please, ma'am.

11858, Alexandra Drive, um 32218.

Thank you.

And if you would also just tell us a little bit about yourself and why being on the elder affairs board is a good fit for you.

Well, first of all, I am an elderly person.

I know.

Surprised.

They were surprised too.

You know, I'm 62.

I have been part of the JISEF community my entire life.

I was raised by my grandparents.

Um, my parents was in and out of my life.

So I was raised to be around older people all of my life.

And um, I have been um blessed to be have my own business.

I do private care in the homes of elderly people.

So I know what it takes to take care of the elderly, look after them, and meet their needs.

Um, I feel like I could be a strong candidate due to the fact that I love being out in the community.

I am part of the CPAC community, and I am part of Tree of Life Outreach Mission, which we take care of the homeless fathers.

We want them off the streets and find jobs for them where they can be a pillow back into the community and in within their family.

So my goal and desire for the um elderly community is to be their voice, be their candidate, be the person that will speak on their behalf, and look out and hopefully be able to meet all of their needs and not some of their needs.

And one of my biggest passion is to make sure that they get healthy meals, not something that's just sitting on front of them, but it looks appealing and not just something to eat.

Thank you very much.

Um we have uh a couple people in the queue.

Uh, Councilmember Boylan, you're recognized.

Thank you, uh Mr.

Chair, through the chair to Ms.

Bullman.

Thank you for putting yourself forward.

Uh, we didn't have a chance to talk, but you are representing me, and I introduced you based upon the information I have.

What you just shared today, told me what I heard earlier the same thing.

So I had no need to have a conversation with you.

But for the record, when you were one first grade, I was in 12th grade.

So you're looking at an elder affair right here.

Thank you.

Next is past President Freeman, please.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair, and through the chair to Angel uh one.

Thank you so much uh for putting yourself forward.

Uh thank you for being here today.

Ear infections are no fun.

I I completely understand that.

I just wanted to call out one thing that you put in your your response to my questions, which I think is amazing here.

Um would have never guessed the number you said, um, which I think is just God's been good to you.

Said I recently completed certification degrees within several areas.

And I'm thinking, you know, you're gonna just name one or two things, but applied management, associates degree, and bachelor's of science, medical assistant, mental health, fetal disorders, pharmacy technician, theological seminary, and pastoral, all while serving as the volunteer chaplain at JSO for over four years.

I think that that says it all.

Elder Affairs is one of my favorite favorite favorite committees and and bodies of for volunteers to serve on.

Uh so thank you so much.

I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Okay, no one else in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By reaction, you've approved 2026 0191.

Thank you, Ms.

Bowman.

We appreciate it.

Thank you, guys.

Appreciate it.

Now we'll go to page six, item number 10, 2026 0202.

We have a motion second on the bill.

Is Mr.

Nestor here, please?

Bradley Nestor.

If you would just please share your name and address for the record and tell us a little bit about why the tree commission is good fit for you.

I guess good afternoon.

My name is Brad Nestor, address on file.

I'm a nominee for the tree commission.

I'm a senior landscape architect with England Timson Miller in Jacksonville.

I'm a licensed landscape architect with over 30 years of experience.

I'm also a past president and former board member of Greenscape of Jacksonville, the oldest tree advocacy group in Florida, and a stakeholder, uh community stakeholder in the tree commission.

I've participated in a tree commission meeting.

I've read over the available information, and I feel that my background and experience would be well suited to the commission's uh role and responsibilities.

I'd like to thank the mayor's office for the nomination and the rules committee and the city council for considering my nomination.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

We'll we'll go next to uh Vice President Howland, please.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I think everyone will notice if you look at the bill that I'm a co-sponsor.

I've known Brad for 15 years.

Uh our kids um have known each other since they were five and they're both 20 now.

I even helped Brad install a ping pong table in his garage.

And then I beat him at Ping Pong after that.

At least that's kind of how I remember it.

Um but Brad was a little humble.

Um he's had most of his career in Jacksonville at the PGA tour.

Whenever you've gone to the players' championship, the beauty of that landscaping is because of Brad being a landscape arch architect, one of many on that team, but played a very fundamental role in that all the time.

Now he's at ETM.

Um, and so he'll be he'll have his hand in projects all over the city.

But one uh interesting thing he mentioned is Greenscape.

So he was with Greenscape during the time that that tree fund was created when there was litigation back then.

And and the whole I I think Brad finds a passion that um by joining the tree commission, he's gonna be impassioned to plant those trees.

Um I think that's that's gonna be an important thing for him.

And he'll do it in a smart way as a uh accomplished um and revered um landscape architect.

So I fully am supportive of Brad in this role.

Thanks.

Thank you very much.

And I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor, please.

And uh you know, you are certainly more than qualified for this position.

Um, but having served as a liaison of the tree commission as well as uh past President Salem and and others, uh we realize how important that experience is, and with a lot of taxpayer dollars, uh mostly mitigation funds that we're talking about here.

Um we need people who have the experience you have to make those wise decisions when you vote on the allocation of those re resources throughout our city.

So thank you very much for for stepping up.

Uh with that, uh please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0202.

Thank you, Mr.

Nestor.

Thank you very much.

We'll next go to item number 12, which is 2026 0204.

Looking for a motion on the amendment, please.

We have a motion second on the amendment.

Um Mr.

Peterson or or Michelle, please explain the amendment.

Through the chair of the committee, the amendment just to correct this term to a first full term that would end on February 28th, 2029.

Okay, thank you.

All in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

We have motion second on the bill as amended.

Um is Dean Kate here?

Yeah, yes.

Would you please come forward?

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Kate Moorhead Carroll.

I'm an episcopal priest and the dean of St.

John's Cathedral here in downtown Jacksonville.

We um were the ones that founded the Solzbacher Center, and we've been committed to the homeless for um many decades.

So I'm um willing to serve again on the homelessness commission uh for a second term.

Um thank you, Dean Kate.

Um we have uh council member Morrow in the queue.

Please, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um thank you for the service that you've done.

Uh I just had a quick question because there was an issue here uh about your attendance, uh 66% of the meetings.

I would imagine you have a very full calendar.

Uh if you continue serving, how are you going to improve that attendance ratio?

I will do my best.

Unfortunately, I do I do have a large cathedral and uh do travel, so um I hope to do better, but um I'll just be there as much as I can.

Yeah, uh, we'll go next to council member boyland, please.

Thank you, Remark.

Could you maybe help us understand?

And I appreciate if you can't make a meeting is one thing, but you're what your what contribution are you making outside of the meeting that warrants you to continue to serve on this body.

Um well, as you know, I'm I'm um working with many of the providers, um, and um we are um now um um interviewing or we've begun to work with a consultant, so um, we're getting to know that that entity as well.

Um so um that that's pretty much the extent of what I've been doing.

Uh yeah, I just wanted to make the point.

I think it's uh it's appropriate to make it given as you said you're steeped in this work already, and continuing your work in this capacity, as you said, to make every effort to attend at least 75% of the meetings, but they're very you're gonna stay active otherwise in in this issue, correct?

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Next go to past president uh freeman, please.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair, and through the chair uh to Miss Carroll.

Uh one, I'm I'm usually never very critical because I understand that these are volunteer roles, but I just heard my colleague reference how much work you're doing already, uh, which is great and it's good for our city.

Um the question that I want to ask is have you mapped out the dates of the meetings?

Because uh I know you say you have a schedule where that's filled with a lot of travel, so I would imagine that your travel plans would be made uh conferences or whatever that might be.

Can you tell me through the chair how many upcoming meetings you foresee having a conflict just based off of your current calendar now for 2026, the remainder of the year?

Yeah, it it should be less.

I I have there are two meetings in the coming year that I will not be able to attend, but most of them I will be there, yes.

Thank you very much.

No one else in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Oh, I'm sorry, um it it came up and went off.

So before before we do that, Mr.

Dennis, please.

Uh through the chair to the committee.

Uh uh we'll definitely have to add on to her uh attendance, and I think there's someone from uh from staff, but uh when the uh commission was set up, uh they had multiple special committee meetings, and if you looked at her entire attendance, it was almost an 80 percent if you add in those special meetings.

And so uh we went back and forth with OGC and the auditors, and so they base it on the standing board meetings and not the multiple special committee meetings.

So um I just wanted to add that that you know uh I think your overall was close to I think you were on some of those emails was close to 80 percent if you add in the special board meetings um with the standing meetings and uh I know the auditors here and and OGC, but it was kind of back and forth.

So um Dean Carroll uh, you know, she made you know again almost 80 percent of those meetings, uh, but where it ticker down when they when auditors and OGC just looked at the standing committees.

And if I might add to through the chair, um we also shifted the meeting times a number of times, but now that's set, so I'll I'll have an easier time making the meetings.

Okay, great.

Thank you both very much.

Uh please record your votes.

Thank you.

Seven yes, zero nays.

Thank you.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0204.

Thank you very much.

We'll go next to page number seven, item 13, 2026, 0205.

We have a motion second on the bill, and I see Miss Gillette coming up here.

I know she's on a scooter.

So take you take your time, be careful.

I'm surprised actually you're here after surgery recently.

But thank you for for making the effort.

Thank you.

Dorothy Gillette, 226 Broward Road.

And would you just share, Ms.

Gillette, a little bit about yourself and why you know being on this Planning Commission, why this is something you really want to do in your you have the experience to do, please.

Correct.

Well, I am an at-large member on the planning commission.

Um before Charles Garrison, who was our chair last year, um moved to New York in October, he was slated for this position.

Uh he had asked all of us to take various board and commission positions because he wanted the planning commission to be liaison to a lot of these different boards and commissions.

So when he left, um it sort of left a uh a spot.

And uh Monet Holder, who's our chair currently, asked me if I would be involved in it.

She knows that as an at-large member of the planning commission, I'm out in the community all over.

I attend meetings as often as I can to the various districts.

Um being an educator for the last 53 years, I've been circulating through Jacksonville.

I visit the homes of the children who need my assistance through Duval County Public School Hospital Homebound Program.

And so I get to hear and see various communities all over Jacksonville.

So as someone who has eyes and ears on some of the issues uh with the housing issues that we do have here in the city.

Um Chairman Holder felt it was a a good match for the two of us.

Thank you very much for that.

And I must apologize.

I just want to clarify.

She's on the planning commission now.

Correct.

And she's being appointed to the Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission.

So I wanted to clarify that because I uh what I commented on would have been a little uh misleading.

So thank you for giving us a little bit about your background.

I just want to ask one question before we go to the the queue here.

Would you share with us a little bit about uh people say you know I've lived here for so long?

Um how many generations um have your family been here in Jacksonville?

Seventh generation in Jacksonville, seventh generation.

We're looking about 209 years now that my family has been here.

So yeah, I I'm pretty much no Jacksonville back and forth, and like I said, being on the planning commission, it's giving me an opportunity to go to meetings and hear what people are saying in their communities.

Uh I get to listen.

I think that's important.

So hopefully I can act on some of what I've listened to.

And I look forward to to learning more about this commission.

Um I had an opportunity to talk to a couple of the members uh to fill me in because I had a lot of questions.

So and that's what I do.

I question things.

Thank you very much.

We'll go next to Councilmember Gay, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, through the chair to Ms.

Gillette.

Uh uh appreciate you stepping forward to uh uh get in this role.

Uh I think you're uh uh good fit for it, and the city will benefit for you being in there, and just for the record, she's one of the the original Browards uh from our city, and so it is quite a legacy.

And so please add me as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Councilmember, are you on on the queue?

Yes, please, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I just uh wanted to be uh added as a co-sponsor as well.

I uh met Miss Gillette a long time ago when we were trying to put all of them during homes in our neighborhood, and thank you.

And they managed to get through.

And uh, but I know your commitment and your passion uh for just urban planning and doing what is right.

And and so I think you'll serve well in this capacity.

Thank you.

We're next to pass President Salem.

You recognize yes, thank you, Chair.

I've known Dorothy and members of her family for many, many years and like to be out as a co-sponsor.

And next to pass President Freeman, please.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I want to go on record saying that I too was around uh Councilman Morrow during that that time with the development, and today might be the slowest I've ever seen you move.

So we're praying for quick healing for you, whatever you are dealing with.

And I would say that.

I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Seeing no one else in the queue.

I would also like to be added as a co-sponsor.

And I will say I just appreciate your frankness, your passion, your drive to make Jacksonville the best that it can be.

I see that.

I hear it everywhere I go.

And you and your family are fully committed to this city, and uh we need more of that.

So thank you very much.

And with that, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero knees.

By your action, you approve 2026 0205.

Thank you, Ms.

Gillette.

And speedy healing.

Will next would be item number 14.

However, I've been informed by Mr.

Dennis that uh he's not available.

So that appointment will be deferred.

Is that correct, Mr.

Dennis?

That appointment will be deferred.

So we'll now go to the front of your main agenda and just work our way through the remaining items left on the agenda.

So item number one, 2024 0627 is deferred at the request of Councilmember Diamond.

Item two is deferred.

It's 2024 0966 at the request of Council President Carico.

Item 3 is deferred at the request of Councilmember Carico, that's 20250775.

Item 4, 2026 0005.

Um we have a motion and second on the amendment.

Um Mr.

Peterson, would you please explain the amendment?

Through the chair of the committee, the amendment will reflect that additional notices were sent to two affected property owners based on the timing of when the application was filed, and then um the bill being introduced, there was a change of two properties.

And so we will reflect those notices and the revised results of the noticing whereby those notices went out.

They were there was a no response from those two uh new notices, and so they're reflected as in the approval.

I will attach revised exhibit three, which is the results to show those uh notices.

Uh revised exhibit four, uh which is the responses to remove the responses from the prior property owner, and then show that the others too were renoticed with their uh non-response approval.

Uh place revised notices on file to reflect the additional noticing and then correct scriptures.

Thank you.

No one in the queue, all those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

I have a motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0005 as amended.

Item number five, 2026 0140.

I have a motion second on the neighborhoods amendment.

Um Mr.

Peterson, would you please explain the neighborhood's amendment?

Yes, amendment.

Through the chair to the committee, the neighborhoods amendment uh would revise the renaming to include only the portion of Confederate Street from Market Street to Liberty Street, uh would include a waiver of code section 745105H uh to authorize a partial street renaming rather than the entire length.

Reflect that a second notice was sent to one um entity that has property on the portion that was being proposed to be renamed, uh attached to revised exhibit two, which is the notice to include that second notice, and then correct a ordinance code section reference.

Okay, thank you.

Um we have two on the queue.

Um, Pastor President Sam on the amendment or on the bill.

Okay, please, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

I voted against this amendment uh this morning in neighborhoods.

I appreciate uh Councilmember Boylan's effort to find uh a compromise to this, but I I'm just concerned about the just the elimination of history and by by changing the name on half the road.

I I feel certain at some point there will be an effort to go ahead well.

Let's go ahead and do the rest of it, and I would rather leave it as it is.

So I'll be voting against the amendment and against the bill.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next to uh Councilmember Boylan, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I appreciate your comments, Councilman Salem.

You know, I have been on record historically supporting mean maintaining history.

Uh even the issues with the monuments, et cetera.

I was pretty much steadfast in my belief of having uh the whitewashing of our history.

I don't want to see that happen.

That being said, I think this is a unique situation.

Number one, it's a disjointed street.

Uh so uh the point that I'm looking to see retained from Hubbard to North Market actually faces or is the front to Springfield Park, which was formerly the Confederate park.

From North Market to Liberty, again, not contiguous road, separated away, and uh it was really as my understanding the request of a certain organization that was acquiring a building on that piece of property.

So maintaining a portion of it, I think is the Solomon uh approach to go, and that's why I offered the amendment.

I encourage your support.

Thank you, Ned.

Next to Vice President Howland, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I was hoping the introducer would be here.

Um I don't know if anyone from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission is only because I had one quick question.

I'm the Rose Arbor in question is actually on the north side of Springfield Park, just north of Springfield Park Lake, about as far away as of Confederate Street as it can be.

Um I'm wondering why they didn't, or maybe they did, um, consider changing the name Phelps Street to Rose Arbor or Orange Street to the south, much both much closer to the original Orange uh Rose Arbor, rather.

I understand he can't change Main Street, but Phelps is a disjointed segment too.

It it stops at market uh and then continues later.

Uh and there's not that much on it.

Um I'm wondering if they considered just changing Phelps to Rose Arbor.

Um, but I'm not sure if there's anyone here to ask.

So we'll have to pose that question to Mr.

Peluso if you're listening.

Thanks.

And this also will be before TU, I believe.

Uh so there's one more, one more opportunity to um discuss this.

Um we'll go next to past President White, please.

Yes, Ruther Chair.

I just want to put on the record.

Uh I had come in on the other committee, uh health and safety, and I was going to actually uh make a motion to withdraw the bill.

Then I'm a big compromise guy, so I heard Mr.

Bowling, so I thought that would give me and I voted for that, and I will think about that over the next couple of days, but I also like uh or understand what Dr.

Salem has said, and I have fear of that also.

So I'm just putting on the record there, don't know how I'll vote Tuesday.

I'll go ahead and support what I did public health and safety.

And now uh my dear friend vice president, which always comes up with a better compromise, usually, that's something to look at also.

So anyway, I just wanted to put that on the record where I am now and what might be in a different place Tuesday night.

Thank you.

Next, past President Freeman, you're recognized.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair, and through the chair to Councilmember White, I would have uh fully supported that withdrawal had you put it forward.

Um I do appreciate uh my colleague's compromise.

He he always seems to be able to try to find ways to smooth situations out.

But this is one of those scenarios, uh, and I'm gonna remain consistent and principled in it.

I oftentimes tell my mentees and I tell a lot of folks that I talk to, I drive looking through my windshield, not my rear view mirror.

Um we understand I don't fully understand why they're looking to make this change, but the question that I always ask them is what's the name of our city?

And at what point do we stop?

And so I have committed myself that my time of serving on this council, I'm going to stop every time I get a chance to and start having our kids look to move forward, not forgetting the past, learning from it, but move forward.

So I'm not going to support changing a portion of it or changing all of it, just on the principle of it's time for us to move forward as a city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, uh Councilmember Amaral.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I was going to try and answer uh Council Vice President Howland's question.

Um the bill has Councilmember uh Peluso's name on it, the the request is not his.

Uh the request is of the property owner.

And there's only one property owner on that block.

And the property owner is uh nonprofit that desires to have a mailing address that's um compatible to the park.

And that's why they uh also requested uh the Rose Arbor, which is part of the park uh uh to be the name change.

I supported the amendment this morning because it's it was a good place to land the plane if we like to use that cliche and keep the non-contiguous piece of Confederate street remain the same in this portion in front of that one property owner to have what they desire a different name for a different mailing address.

And so that's that's that's just give you some historical context as to why the legislation is before us.

It's in Jimmy's district, that's why his name is on it.

But I'm gonna support the amendment I did this morning.

I will continue to thank you.

Next to uh councilmember gay, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I concur with former council president uh freeman and Dr.

Salem, and I I like the suggestions that uh Vice President Howland is brought to the to the dias here.

Um so with with that, you know, I I just once again uh uh we have to have history.

We we can't just uh erode it away.

You know, uh I look at my lineage as Native American and and um yeah, we we keep the statues up of custer, but uh we know what happened to him, and so uh I'm not worried about what names are out there.

That's just history.

And so I I won't be supporting this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh seeing no one no more speakers in the queue.

I'll just say I came into this today um leaning toward not voting for it for the reasons many of you mentioned.

Um however, um, as I've tried to do uh throughout my time on the council, uh try to find a way when there's a contentious issue to see if we all can be okay, or at least most of us can be okay with the way forward.

I think councilmember Boylan is offered that up.

Uh Vice President has offered some other possibilities of maybe getting us to that place as well.

I know the Springfield preservation folks have have come my way.

I've I've done some projects that you all have approved for that neighborhood voicing their support for this name change.

Uh so I take all that in, however, for right now.

Um I like the compromise.

Um, I'm I'm really curious what we're gonna go over in TU and um exploring these other road possibilities.

Uh but for right now I'll support the compromise, um, but I'm still open uh to more more input as we go forward.

So with with that, um let's see, we're we're on the amendment, correct?

Yeah.

Um all those in favor.

I'm I'm gonna do it by raising hands so that I don't miss any voices.

Um all those in favor of the neighborhood's amendment, please signify by raising your hand.

All is opposed, the same.

Okay, we have four to three by my count.

Is that right?

Uh that the amendment passes.

Um looking for a motion.

The bill is amended.

And motion second on the bill is amended.

Anyone in the queue, no?

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

Four yes, three nays.

By reaction, you've approved 2026 0140 as amended in neighborhoods.

So we'll next go to the following page.

We've already taken up item six.

Item seven, 2026 0187 is being deferred at the request of council member Amaro.

Um item number eight, 2026 was already taken up.

Um item number nine, 2026, as we talked about, is being deferred.

Item 10 was taken up, item 11 is being deferred.

Item 12, we've taken up.

We go to page number seven, item number 13 was addressed, and item 14 is deferred.

Um individuals not able to make it.

We move on to item number 15, which was discussed by councilmember Lane and on second read 2026 0213.

Item 16, 2026 0220 is also on second read.

And item number 17, 2026 0221 is on second read.

However, I wanted to um give Mr.

Dennis the opportunity to address before we take this up on the following uh committee meeting.

There's a question on whether this individual has a substantial business or philanthropic contribution, and um and there's a waiver required, and so I wanted to give him an opportunity to speak to that at this point.

Through the chair to the committee, um uh the administration is asking for a waiver for Shannon Nasworth.

Uh Shannon Nasworth uh just retired as the C president CEO of Ability Housing.

She lives in St.

John's County.

Um and uh we're we are uh the legislation is for her to serve on the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority.

Um we feel that uh her long history of being the president CEO, 22 years of ability housing.

Um she has uh under her leadership, uh there's been like 300 million dollars in capital financing for affordable and supportive housing.

Um she's created over 19,000 units, not just in North Florida, but throughout the uh throughout the state.

Uh prior to her becoming the president CEO of uh ability housing, uh she served as associate uh executive director of Habitat for Humanity, Jacks Beaches, and also the CFO of the of Habitat of Humanity, uh Jacksonville.

Um again, uh the administration feels with her uh long history and uh development of affordable housing here and uh here in North Florida and Jacksonville that uh a waiver uh we're asking for the council to uh waive the out of county rule for her to serve on the Jacksville Housing Finance Authority.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Dennis.

We have past president Freeman in the queue.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh to the body or maybe to our attorneys.

Um a question came to my mind when as a liaison on KHA, uh, one of the board members asked about the former CEO going and working for um one of the vendors that applies for grants at KHA and ask if there was if there was an ethics process that they needed to go through.

Um and that board member said that when they were once a city worker and then they transitioned into the pub uh private sector, they had to go before ethics.

And so I asked this question is there any conflict if you served in the body as a as a vendor and now you're sitting in a seat of judgment and determining who gets it.

Um do we have any kind of protocol for ethics on that?

And has it been run through ethics and through our attorneys to see if there's a potential conflict.

And I want to say I am a fan of uh Miss Nasworth.

Met with them, they do amazing work, and so this is not an indictment on her resume.

I'm just asking about the uh potential of a conflict through the chair to council member Freeman.

I defer to the bill of sponsor as to whether or not they ran this through ethics or if they ran it through OGC.

I have not had any part in that.

Uh through the chair to uh to councilman Freeman, uh we have all of our appointees have they go through a self-assessment uh uh, you know, where they uh uh basically share if they have any, you know, uh doing any business or anything like that uh with the city.

Um and so uh just like every piece of legislation uh it was uh drafted um and looked at by uh OGC um and with the ordinance uh she wasn't uh she wasn't on the inside awarding uh contracts because there is a prohibition.

You cannot uh be at the seat of awarding contracts and then go and work for the agency in which you awarded uh a contract and I'm not exactly sure if you were on the council uh during that time, and it was at that time it was called the Moosle rule uh that's there uh because when he left uh the mayor's office, he went and worked for the Jaguars and the and the council moved very quickly and uh instituted the the the Moosle rule and uh just like you mentioned the KHA and so what the that former KHA CEO did went before ethics, uh or I think the committee, I think uh councilman Miller was on it, and you all vetted that and gave her a waiver.

contracts and then go and work for the agency in which you awarded uh a contract and I'm not exactly sure if you were on the council uh during that time and it was at that time it was called the Moosle rule uh that's there uh because when he left uh the mayor's office he went and worked for the Jaguars and the and the council moved very quickly and uh instituted the the the Moosle rule and uh just like you mentioned the KHA and so what the that former KHA CEO did went before ethics uh or I think the committee I think uh councilman Miller was on it and you all vetted that and gave her a waiver so um this is kind of the opposite where someone used to be over an agency um and you know with all of her background I mean she's duly qualified she retired uh and and so we again asked her to uh to serve on the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority and let me say this um you know they're not the final say so of awarding um uh monies uh you know they do over they do have oversight uh but it is the state that actually um uh that that that grants those dollars thank you uh thank you so much for that um explanation and I guess to the chair your name was mentioned as a veter or someone who's vetted uh scenarios like this before why would this not be a similar scenario um I think what he was talking about was um employment you know post-employment and that was what you were referring to for the KHA uh CEO and had to come before that post employment um commission to be able to consider that request as an exception okay I mean I'm I have no problem with her expertise I just want to make sure from my seat that I'm asking the question at least is there any potential conflict or rub uh and then what levels of oversight or accountability did we put in place to ensure that we did ask the questions and we vetted it and I think we've had the conversation so if there is something that comes up then he just said that they self-report or self-assess and he just said that the attorneys wrote it and they've done their due diligence so this will be one of those moments of trust so thank you.

Thank you next to pass president Salem please thank you chair I would be very supportive of a waiver uh I think Shannon Nasworth in my experience on the council is one of the most reasonable people that I have found in the housing space she's practical um she's not a far lefty by any means she tries to do the right thing and uh Mr.

Dennis I would be very supportive of a waiver I don't know if this committee needs to vote on it.

If so I'll I will make a a motion to do that um please advise how we should move forward she's terrific and uh she retired for ability housing happens to live in St.

John's County has tremendous experience in Duval and I think would be a great addition.

Thank you I think it's a good time to go to Miss Shell because she can lay the groundwork for that uh for us.

Thank you.

Sure thank you through the chair to the committee I just want to point out this legislation was written with one waiver of chapter 52 because there's a specific requirement for this board that they reside in Duval County.

Once you waive that it falls back on chapter 50 which says they can qualify based on maintaining a substantial economic business interest or substantial philanthropic interest the keyword being maintained.

So what I heard from Mr.

Dennis is in the past up until last year she's had a substantial economic business or philanthropic interest.

But if she doesn't currently have that that will also that waiver will need to be added as well just so you know um and we can amend the legislation next cycle when we actually take this up this is on second reading today but it will require from from what I've heard today it will require a second waiver.

Come come back to past president uh Salem for a follow-up yeah I don't know if we need to take a vote but I would be supportive of a a double waiver it sounds like for her um she may have some philanthropic interest in Duvall County she may be donating money to to some entity I have no idea but but do think she'd be a great addition um to this board which uh um I think needs people like her frankly freeman please uh thank you mr chair and and through the chair to to the body let's be clear this is not an indictment on Ms.

Nasworth's ability this is not an indictment on do I think she'd be a great board member this is a questioning of our process and so and making sure and so now what I think I just heard through the chair to Michelle is it reverts back to uh the waiver is that the same one as we had with D I know DIA has their own little special piece and I just want to make sure that I'm staying consistent because I voted against a very well qualified individual because I just said we have people in Duvall County who can do the same thing and the I didn't like the message I was sending to Duvall County residents in that scenario and then I think we might have done some modification to legislation that kind of frees people like myself up principled individuals up that say okay I don't have to be the one that's being the bad guy I'm voting against are you saying that that's what this falls into the next waiver through the chair through the chair to council member Freeman this is a similar scenario um DIA

And the I didn't like the message I was sending to Duvall County residents in that scenario.

And then I think we might have done some modification to legislation that kind of frees people like myself up, principled individuals up that say, okay, I don't have to be the one that's being the bad guy voting against.

Are you saying that that's what this falls into the next waiver through the chair?

Through the chair to council member Freeman.

This is a similar scenario.

Um DIA, like JHFA, uh had a requirement specifically that you had to be a resident of Duval County.

Um to get that board member on, as you recall, we had to waive that, and we and then she qualified based on substantial um business interest in Duval County.

And later on, that was um that ordinance code was amended later.

But um, in this case, you're gonna need two waivers because she doesn't qualify under either, because she doesn't, I would say she does not maintain or currently have a substantial economic business or philanthropic interest.

So once so through the chair to Michelle, we're setting a precedent right here with this particular nominee.

Is that what I'm hearing?

Through the chair to council member Freeman, I would say you're making a policy call and a decision on on whether you feel compelled to waive these two code sections to appoint this person to this board.

I need to ask the question better through the chair to Michelle or through Mr.

Peace.

Will this be the first time that we have voted for someone like this?

And I know that that's a tough question to answer.

It's on second reading, so we have time.

But if we ever, if we're doing first, I always like to know what could potentially follow behind it.

And so again, that's why I said this was just a process thing.

I know Ms.

Nasworth, I've done tours of their sites well before I came on the council.

About housing is is a hot spot for me.

I love it, but process matters, and so I just want to make sure as a rules committee member.

I'm asking the questions that maybe are not popular, but I think it will put us in the right posture when we make our final decision.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I just have one more question for Ms.

Shell.

Um, we've we've done the discussion debate of that of that important area that you said would require a waiver.

Um, given it's on second read.

Do we need a a call, a decision made at this point, or have we done our due due diligence uh required at this point?

To the chair, I would say you've done what you need to do at this point, and when this appears on the agenda at the next rules committee meeting, um, we'll mark it accordingly with the additional waivers that that need to um be added.

Okay, thank you very much.

So I think we can uh move on.

Great discussion.

Um, and I and I love the exploration of the qualification versus the process and and making sure you know what's important to us is uh is addressed as individuals and as uh a body here.

So we will we will take this up further at the next meeting.

So moving on to item number 18, 2026, 0223 is on second read.

Item 19, 2026 0227 is on second read, and um item number 20, 2026 0228.

Looking for a motion, we have a motion second.

Um I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor, please.

No one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0228.

Item 21, 2026 0230 is on second read.

Item 22, 2026 0231 is on second read.

And item 23, 2026 0233.

We have a motion and second on the bill.

I see no one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026, 0233.

Item number 24, 2026, 0234.

We have a motion second on the bill.

No one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0234.

Item 25, 2026, 0235.

We have a motion and second on the bill.

No one on the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Please add that seven yes, you're on ease.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0235.

Item number 26, 2026, 0236 is on second read.

Item 27, 2026 0237 is also on second read.

We go to page 11.

Item 28, 2026 0238.

We have a motion and second on the bill.

No one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven years, the runnies.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0238.

Before we start this next section, I'd like to recognize Councilmember Gay as something he'd like to share.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um as we are coming up on the these appointments to this East Board on these grants, hearing what the community is saying, I think I'd like to see us step back and pause this and let's get some community input of their thoughts on these candidates that that's coming before us.

So we we're not circumventing the spirit of what we approved for the uh opioid model.

And so uh as we uh this is in second and it'll be coming back to us.

Uh I think we need to uh either defer it and and uh re re look at this and uh to make sure we get the right people in the position that that will benefit the community's interest as well as the council and the city's interest.

So I just kind of I want to put that out as a look ahead uh that because that's what I'm gonna be looking for as we go to make these decisions to where uh I really want the community uh support on these candidates.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Councilmember Boylan, please.

You recognize thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I'm kinda along the same lines as council member gay.

But my suggestion is a little bit different.

We've got what four recommendations by the mayor's office and four by the council president.

I would love to hear from Mr.

Dennis as to how and why the criterion they used to pick the four they picked.

And also I'd like to hear from the council president to understand the how and why of whom he had put forward for nominations.

I think it's only fair to them to give them a voice in this process.

I've already spoken to a couple of them, and to the point of people in the chambers who spoke earlier, you know, they seem like good people who have an active interest in doing this work.

So I'd love to know how discriminating both the president of the council and the mayor were in the choosing those fixed uh folks and the criteria they chose them before.

I'm not suggesting a conversation today, but I think if we take them up next time, that we first of all hear from the council president and from the mayor's office as to why they chose these four to put forward on on their respective balances.

Thank you.

We'll go next to pass President Freeman, please.

You recognize.

You guys get I I don't know, it's my first bite at Apple with this, so I and I don't get many of them, and some say that time is not long for here.

Uh but hearing the citizens come up and talk.

Um, and a year ago doing volunteer work out east and having someone personally come up and give me a very heartfelt, passionate uh concern before it ever got to this part, um, has really caught my attention.

So I'm looking forward to however this body wants to address it moving forward, but I do think hitting the brakes not only just for the mayor or but for the council as well, and get a better understanding of the process uh would be in the best interest of it.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Pass President Salem, please.

Thank you, Chair.

I I served as vice chair of the CBA committee, and I will you want it, Councilmember Gay?

Okay.

I'm not sure anybody else here was on it other than oh, council, yeah.

And uh we worked very hard.

And uh and I really uh pushed the opioid model, which eventually got adopted, and there was a sigh of relief when we got the opioid model from my standpoint, because it was it was like pulling teeth at times.

And I was I think there are eight appointments to this, and the Jaguars have one for a total of nine.

My hope was at that point, because there are uh two groups involved in this process that the mayor's office and uh President Carrico would be aware of that, it may be to pick two people from each group, so there'd be four and four, and I think that would be a fair way of uh trying to get the thing started.

I think right now, from what I'm hearing, and I have met with some of these people, I think as you have.

It's like a six-two right now.

And I don't know uh who appointed those six.

I I think the mayor has four of that six, all from the Liscjax contingent of the two factions.

I councilmember Dennis, I'm just just for the sake of discussion.

So uh and I I when the other group has come to me, and what should we do?

I said um I don't know if we can change those, but you can doggone sure attend the meetings, be vocal, be aware, and be there as decisions are made.

You can always ask for uh appointments to be changed, and maybe that can occur, but uh I I've I would like to see uh a situation where it was forward four, frankly.

Um I I think that would be a fairer way of doing and get the committee started in the right way, but I don't make the appointments.

Two people make the appointments, the mayor and the president.

So I'll leave it at that.

Thank you.

Um anyone else?

Okay.

Um Mr.

Dennis, anything to add?

I know you gave a thumbs up when that recommendation uh was made.

I just I don't want to leave that hanging, give you an opportunity here.

Uh through the chair and to the committee, I guess Councilman Bowlin.

Uh the administration will be more than happy to, I guess at the next meeting or whenever uh you see fit to share how we vet it and things like that, and and what was our parameters uh of landing on the four people that uh that was uh introduced.

Thank you.

Um I will say, well, okay, we have someone else in the queue, so I'll try to stay last here.

Councilmember Amara, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I I look forward to hearing what's uh how the uh uh the process was done.

It is four and four, four from the council president, four from the administration.

Um some of the individuals are are well-known public servants.

I um you know uh they've been vilified.

Um without, in my opinion, without just cause.

Um but we'll see what happens when we hear how the process went.

Thank you.

Um I think if uh I have that correct, I think uh past President Salem wasn't meaning four and four from four from the mayor, four from city council president.

I think he was referring to the the two subgroups, if you will, of of Eastside and the appointees from those groups.

Um I I will just say I've I've done a similar thing and just recommending to Mr.

Madchin and others, just make your voices heard.

Please make sure you're meeting with key people in the administration and and voicing your concerns and letting us know.

Um I've I've brought up at least one individual to the administration.

I'm applying the criteria that was established.

And um, and when I don't see that, then I question and say, is there something more that I didn't see?

And Mr.

Dennis and I have had one of those exchanges already on one of the uh one of the nominees.

Um I would recommend to all of us we do that and to make sure we get this right.

And so I'm I'm open uh to other possibilities, but I I like the idea of being able to hear from the administration as well as from our leadership on council um how they looked at this and how they applied the criteria, because um the criteria is is pretty, I think well spelled out.

Um, but are we applying that criteria?

That's what I believe is important.

Um so I'm gonna leave it there for now.

I'm gonna continue on, but I thought that was a good opportunity uh for us to have that kind of discussion and make sure you folks that are right here and the ones that weren't able to be here, we hear you.

We hear you.

We're not dismissing it at all.

And we want to get this right as much as you want to get this right.

Um thank you very much.

So item number 29, 2026 0239 is on second read.

Item 30, 2026 zero two four zero, second read.

Item thirty-one, twenty twenty-six zero two four one is on second.

Thirty-two, twenty twenty-six zero two four two is on second.

Also twenty twenty-six zero two four three second.

Uh next page, twenty twenty-six zero two four four is on second read.

Twenty twenty-six zero two four five is on second read.

And item thirty-six, twenty twenty-six zero two four six.

I have a motion and a second on the bill.

Um anyone in the queue.

Um see, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Um anybody who uh if you haven't read about uh Miss Coleman.

What a what an amazing story history here.

So I would just recommend um recommend you you do so if you have the time.

Um but yeah, I'd like to be a co-sponsor.

We have um no one else in the queue or no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven years, zero and action you've approved twenty twenty-six zero two four six.

Item thirty-seven, twenty twenty-six zero two four seven's on second read.

Item thirty-eight, twenty twenty-six zero two five zero is on second read.

Going to page thirteen, item thirty-nine, twenty twenty-six zero two five one is on second read.

Item forty, twenty twenty-six zero two five two is on second read.

And item forty-one, twenty twenty-six zero two five three.

Looking for a motion.

We have motion second on the bill.

No one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

And and me as well, uh giving them liaison, I better be on that.

Thank you very much.

Seven Yes, zero and A's.

By your action, you've approved 2026 zero two five three.

Item forty-two, twenty twenty-six zero two five four is on second read.

Item forty-three, twenty twenty-six zero two five-five, second read.

Also, item forty-four, twenty twenty-six zero two five six, second read.

And item forty-five, twenty twenty-six, zero, two, five, seven is on second read.

Anything else by anyone?

Any comments to c before we close out.

Uh thank you all for being here.

Um appreciate serving with you all.

Uh, we are adjourned.