Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee Meeting - April 20, 2026
Rules Committee Meeting Summary (April 20, 2026)
The Rules Committee of the Jacksonville City Council convened on April 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Council Chamber, chaired by Chris Miller. The meeting adjourned at 4:32 PM. The committee considered a wide range of items including appointments to various boards, amendments to the city code, funding approvals, and public comments. Key debates centered on the Eastside Grants Committee appointments, the expansion of the Downtown Entertainment District, and the use of traffic calming funds for a community event. Numerous appointments were approved, several items were deferred or withdrawn, and the committee passed amendments to the Budget Stabilization Reserve ordinance.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lisa Manners (Eastside resident) expressed concerns about the lack of renovations at her apartment complex (7th Street) despite promised funding, citing ongoing mold and mice issues.
- Dennis Sanchez (Together East Coalition) criticized the selection process for the Eastside Grants Committee, arguing it was not community-engaged and appeared to be "hand-picking" members.
- James Matchett argued that the proposed appointments do not represent the community's voice and called for transparency, accountability, and community involvement.
- Latavia Harris raised specific issues about Dr. Rudy Jamison, claiming he failed to address housing conditions despite meeting with residents, and questioned the qualifications of other appointees (Cleve Warren, Kim Black).
- Kim Pryor urged the committee to reconsider some appointments, noting that the criteria for "substantial business interest" are not clearly defined and that community residents should have priority.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) without debate:
- 2026-0187: Appropriating $30,000 from Council District 1 CBA contingency to North Florida School of Special Education for vocational training.
- 2026-0220: Repealing the Sign Enforcement Fund and eliminating references in code.
- 2026-0231: Resolution supporting protected bicycle lanes on portions of Beaver, Monroe, Hogan, and Liberty streets downtown.
- 2026-0236: Confirming Sheriff's appointment of Joseph D. Stronko as Chief of Patrol Support Division.
- 2026-0237: Approving revisions to the City's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
- 2026-0262: Resolution honoring Jaydon Sinard Dexter (Bigga Rankin) for contributions to music and culture.
- 2026-0269: Resolution commending Jax Gents Inc. for winning state step championship, with amendment recognizing national title.
- 2026-0271, 2026-0272, 2026-0278, 2026-0279, 2026-0281, 2026-0282, 2026-0283, 2026-0284: Various commendations and recognitions.
Discussion Items
- ADA Presentation (Teresa Eichner): The committee received an update on website compliance. The Legislative Gateway will be taken down from Wednesday, April 22, for 4-6 weeks to allow for document remediation. Internal staff will have access via username/password. Public will need to request documents during this period.
- 2026-0206: Appointment of Cody Mashni to Five Points Dependent Special District Board: Approved 7-0 after an amendment to remove emergency language. Mashni spoke about his experience as manager of bars in Five Points.
- 2026-0221: Appointment of Shannon Nazworth to Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority (JHFA): Approved 5-2 (Freeman and Gay opposed). The amendment waived both the residency requirement and the requirement for substantial business or philanthropic interest in Duval County. Nazworth, former CEO of Ability Housing, spoke about her 30+ years in affordable housing. CM Freeman expressed concern about setting a precedent for waiving these requirements.
- 2026-0213: Budget Stabilization Reserve Amendment: Approved 7-0 with two amendments. The first added the exact dollar amount of operating reserves ($392,138,000). The second (offered by CM Salem) established a floor of the higher of 17% of the General Fund budget or the $392,138,000 balance to fund previously approved unfunded incentives.
- 2026-0223: Downtown Entertainment District Expansion to Brooklyn: Approved 4-3 (Miller, Amaro, White, Boylan in favor; Salem, Freeman, Gay opposed). CM Peluso spoke in support, noting that Incahoots nightclub had been excluded from the original expansion of hours to 3 AM. Opponents wanted more time to evaluate the current 7-week pilot of extended hours before expanding.
- 2026-0230: Vacation of Plat and Road Abandonment in Jax Heights: Approved 7-0 after a floor amendment by CM Amaro to remove an incorrect reference to Jacksonville Heights Subdivision in the title.
- 2026-0239, 2026-0240, 2026-0254, 2026-0255, 2026-0257: Eastside Grants Committee Appointments:
- Rochelle Stoddard (6-0-1, Freeman abstained): Approved. Stoddard is a third-generation owner of a family scrapyard in the district.
- Dr. Rudy Jamison (6-0-1, Freeman abstained): Approved. Jamison is Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission and a lifelong resident of Eastside. He addressed concerns about his involvement with Lift Jax, stating he resigned from that board.
- Cleve Warren (6-0-1, Freeman abstained): Approved. Warren has a long history of community involvement through his church, First Baptist Church of Oakland, and former roles in economic development.
- James Edwards (6-0-1, Freeman abstained): Approved. Edwards is a retired fire captain and lifetime resident.
- Larry Swink (6-0-1, Freeman abstained): Approved with amendment to strike reference to substantial business interest in Fairfield neighborhood (his business is just outside the mapped boundary). Swink runs Jackson Electric Supply and is active in the community.
- Discussion: Multiple committee members (Freeman, Gay, Salem) debated the process. Freeman abstained citing a potential conflict with his employer. Some members expressed hesitation about moving forward without full community consensus, while others emphasized the need to start disbursing funds (the CBA has $40 million over 7 years).
- 2026-0263: Emergency appropriation of $25,000 from Council District 8 Traffic Calming project to Riverview Collective Community Organization for OysterFest: Approved 7-0 as emergency with amendments. The original funding source was traffic calming, but CM Gaffney explained that community support for speed humps was lacking. After debate, an amendment was added to clarify that the funds originated from the council member's strategic initiatives contingency. CM Freeman and Gay initially opposed but supported after the amendment.
- 2026-0268: Contract with Selectionlink, Inc. for JEA employee survey: Deferred at request of CM Salem for further fine-tuning. CM Boylan noted that the City Charter gives JEA authority over personnel matters.
- 2026-0288: Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grants amendments: Read second and rereferred.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Appointments:
- Cody Mashni (5 Points Special District) – 7-0
- Shannon Nazworth (JHFA) – 5-2
- Joseph Stronko (Sheriff's Office) – 7-0
- Rochelle Stoddard, Dr. Rudy Jamison, Cleve Warren, James Edwards, Larry Swink (Eastside Grants Committee) – each 6-0-1 (Freeman abstaining)
- Beth Breeding, Emily Pierce, Kristen Reed, Brian Small, Michael Herzberg, CM Rahman Johnson (Mobility System Working Group) – all 7-0
- Approved Legislation:
- 2026-0213 (Budget Stabilization Reserve) – 7-0
- 2026-0223 (Downtown Entertainment District expansion) – 4-3
- 2026-0263 (OysterFest funding) – 7-0 as emergency
- 2026-0187 (NFSSE funding) – 7-0
- Deferred Items:
- 2024-0627 (Mayor's transfer authority) – at request of CM Diamond
- 2024-0966 (Settlement with Live Oak Ancient City Living) – at request of CP Carrico
- 2025-0775 (Lobbying restrictions) – at request of CM Carlucci
- 2026-0192 (JEA appointment of Randy Wyse) – continued deferral pending JEA investigation
- 2026-0203 (JEA reappointment of Joseph Disalvo) – same reason
- 2026-0227 (Abortion expenditure prohibition) – at request of CM Diamond
- 2026-0241 (Kim Black, Eastside Grants) – at request of chair to allow further discussion
- 2026-0244 (Martha Moore, Mobility System) – at request of appointee
- 2026-0268 (JEA survey contract) – at request of CM Salem
- Withdrawn Appointments:
- 2026-0242 (Ariane Randolph, Eastside Grants) – at request of appointee (employee of Lift Jax, conflict of interest for funding)
- 2026-0256 (E. Shawn Ashley, Eastside Grants) – at request of appointee
- Next Steps: The next regular meeting of the Rules Committee will be held on May 4, 2026. Several items will be heard at the full City Council meeting on April 21, 2026, including the Finance Committee for the Budget Stabilization Reserve amendment.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Monday, April 20th, 2026, 2 p.m. Rules Committee meeting. We'll get started with Mr. Dennis with the introductions, please. Good afternoon, Garrett Dennis administration. Colleen Hamsey, Council Research. Carla Schell, Office of General Counsel. Trista Carihur, Council Auditor's Office. Randy White, District 12. Terrence Freeman at large, group one. Chris Miller at large group five. On Salem Group Two at large. Mike Gay, District Two. And last but not least, Councilman Michael Boylan, District Six. All righty. Thank you. I see we do have a couple public comment cards. Is there another one there or no? Okay. We have I'm not sure. We have excuse me. Okay, we have two people here actually who wish to speak. We'll start out with Latavia Harris, please, followed by Lisa Manners, I believe. Miss Harris. Okay, we'll start with Miss Manners, I believe it is. Lisa Maners. Yeah, if you would please, ma'am, um state your name and address for the for the record, please. Yes, my name is my name is Lisa Manners. I reside at 1230 East, 7th Street, apartment 20. I'm an East Side resident. Okay, thank you. Please go ahead. Oh, okay. Okay. Um I um have a lot of concerns that's going on in out there in our apartment. I spoke with Mr. Jameis and Rudy Jameson about uh a month after they completed the renovation out there, but half of the apartments are still not renovated yet. We still have the um condition of the mole mice. Um some of our apartments has not been done yet. Um want to know, you know, when are we gonna get our apartment? Because I'm one of the ones that spoke a couple of years ago about the situation about the mill dune um when it first came about with the one they call the news and talked to you know a couple of news media about the situation, but we have not some of the old part, the old units, we have not got our apartment fixed yet. And want to know, you know, are we gonna get our apartment fixed with the funds they had received? Um that was enough to have our apartment seats. They told the news we was gonna be the first ones to um get our apartment fixed, but we have not seen uh um got our apartment done at all, and we still, like I say, living with um mole mice, um, still is uh situation. Well, even though they renovated some of the units um at first and 7th Street apartment, but it's still a problem with the mole um and the mice. And like I said, I'm one of the old tenants that have not had the apartment done as of yet. Okay, thank you. Um anything else to share. Um I just want to know are we gonna get our apartment fixed?
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