Jacksonville Finance Committee Meeting Summary – April 21, 2026

The Finance Committee of the Jacksonville City Council met on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 2:11 PM in the Council Chamber. Chair Joe Carlucci presided. Members present: Carlucci, Howland, Salem, Diamond, Arias, and Lahnen. Member Pittman was excused. The agenda included three presentations, public comments, and action on 28 agenda items. Key outcomes included approvals of several appropriations, amendments to the budget code, emergency funding for community events, and a major economic development agreement.

Presentations

• ADA Website Compliance: Teresa Eichner informed the committee that due to DOJ ADA requirements, the portion of the City Council website housing legislation and exhibits will be taken offline beginning April 22 for four to six weeks. A screen-reader vendor is being procured. Internal staff will retain access via username/password; the public will need to submit records requests for non-compliant documents. Agendas and minutes will remain posted.
• Durkeeville Revitalization Study: Ennis Davis presented the results of the study approved in 2024. Over 50 community meetings were held. The study identified $385 million in committed public investment (CIP, TIP, etc.) and developed an implementation strategy focusing on economic development, housing, infrastructure, cultural heritage, and community resources. Key projects include the J.P. Small Field museum (expected groundbreaking summer 2026, opening October 2027), new pedestrian signals on Kings Road, sidewalk infill (six blocks completed), and a $50,000 historic preservation grant for bluget homes. A Mellon Foundation grant is funding technical assistance through May 2027. Councilmembers expressed support and noted the importance of tourism and housing.
• Clerk of the Courts Audit: Council Auditor Kim Taylor reviewed audit report #903. The audit focused on tax deed sales and found that fees and minimum bids were generally accurate. However, issues were noted in the distribution of surplus funds: $7,600+ from unique forfeited deposit circumstances and $50,955 in undistributed surplus funds from 185 tax deeds that should have been remitted to the state. Additional findings included lack of finalized SOPs and inappropriate system access levels. The Clerk’s office is addressing these issues.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carnell Oliver: Not present.
• Marshiray Wellington and Felicia Mitchell (Riverview Collective Community Organization): Spoke during discussion of item 2026-0263. They described the OysterFest event held April 18, 2026, which attracted 1,700 attendees (up from 300 prior year). The event promotes oyster reef restoration as a natural flood barrier along the Trout River, with a goal of installing 1,000 oyster poach modules and filtering over 5 billion gallons of water annually within five years. They requested funding support.

Discussion Items

• Item 2026-0213 (Budget Stabilization Reserve): Councilmember Lahnen’s bill to amend Code Sec. 106.106 to create a process for funding previously approved unfunded non-recurring lump sum financial incentives from General Fund operating reserves above a new floor. The Rules amendment added an operating reserve floor equal to the higher of 17% of the General Fund budget or the September 30, 2024 operating reserve balance of $392,138,000. Councilmembers supported the additional fiscal guardrail. Approved 6-0.
• Items 2026-0218 & 2026-0219 (DPRP Loans): Two ordinances authorizing Downtown Preservation and Revitalization Program loans for historic building renovations. Item 0218: $1,620,655 for 38-44 W. Monroe St. (64% of construction costs, ROI 0.53). Item 0219: $1,907,345 for 231 N. Laura St. (66% of construction costs, ROI 0.53). Both projects include commercial/retail space and apartments. Funding is from Northbank Tax Increment Fund, already budgeted in DIA’s FY 25-26 budget. Amendments corrected construction costs, acquisition costs, and JSEB goals. Council noted the projects had failed in NCSPHS (3-4) due to concerns about ROI, but committee members argued these small projects are vital for downtown revitalization. Approved 5-1 each (Diamond nay).
• Item 2026-0249 (JSEB Micro-Grant Program): Councilmember Freeman’s ordinance appropriating $200,000 from PSG micro-grant program to the JSEB micro-grant program, with carryover to FY 26-27. An amendment placed funds into a separate activity. Discussion focused on administration’s capacity to implement. Mr. Weinstein (Mayor’s Office) stated microgrants are inefficient and require significant contract management, and that implementation is an administration purview. Councilmembers Freeman, Salem, Diamond, and others expressed frustration that the program has been slow-walked for years. Councilmember Freeman noted the funding supports youth entrepreneurs. Approved 6-0 with all members adding as co-sponsors.
• Item 2026-0263 (OysterFest Funding): Emergency ordinance appropriating $25,000 from Council District 8 Traffic Calming project to Riverview Collective Community Organization for OysterFest expenses. Rules amendment included a CIP amendment, corrected budget scrivener’s error, and added whereas clauses. Councilmembers praised the event’s community impact. Approved 6-0 as emergency.
• Item 2026-0285 (Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Economic Development Agreement): Resolution authorizing a Recapture Enhanced Value Grant of up to $12 million ($10.5M for Centurion facility expansion, $1.5M for new packaging and logistics facility at 815 S. Main St.). Total private investment estimated at $550 million, with at least 10 new jobs at average $105,000 salary by Dec 31, 2028. REV grants are performance-based with clawbacks. OED calculated ROI of 4.86 over 10 years. Amendment corrected facility address and base year to 2026, clarified default language, and terminated previous REV grants. JSEB participation confirmed. Approved 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Appropriations Approved:
  • $100,000 for St. James Building elevator repairs (Item 2026-0185) – Approved 6-0.
  • $30,000 for North Florida School of Special Education vocational training (Item 2026-0187) – Approved 6-0.
  • $75,000 for additional street sweeping from contract hauler contributions (Item 2026-0215) – Approved 6-0.
  • $25,000 to First Coast Crime Stoppers from Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund (Item 2026-0217) – Approved 6-0.
  • $90,576 for Mosquito Control Division operational expenses (Item 2026-0225) – Approved 6-0.
  • $77,440 in grant funds for derelict vessel removal (Item 2026-0226) – Approved 6-0.
  • $200,000 for JSEB Micro-Grant Program (Item 2026-0249) – Approved 6-0 as amended.
  • $25,000 for Riverview Collective OysterFest (Item 2026-0263) – Approved 6-0 as emergency.
• Amendments Approved:
  • Budget Stabilization Reserve (Item 2026-0213) – Amended and approved 6-0.
  • DPRP loans for 38-44 W. Monroe St. and 231 N. Laura St. (Items 2026-0218/0219) – Amended and approved 5-1 each.
  • J&J Vision Care agreement (Item 2026-0285) – Amended and approved 6-0.
• Emergency Passages Approved:
  • Ordinance to opt-in to national pharmacy settlement (Item 2026-0261) – Emergency approved 6-0 (deadline May 4, 2026).
  • OysterFest funding (Item 2026-0263) – Emergency approved 6-0.
• Items Deferred: 2024-0627, 2024-0966, 2025-0361, 2025-0775, 2026-0227, 2026-0268.
• Second Readings: Isle of Palms budget (2026-0259), Historic Stanton grant (2026-0260), Riverside-Avondale Preservation amendment (2026-0264), Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association funding (2026-0265), Opioid Settlement Proceeds Code amendments (2026-0288) – All read 2nd and referred.