Good evening.

Welcome everybody to the Jacksonville City Council meeting for Tuesday, April 28th.

It is 5 p.m.

on the dot.

I'm your presiding officer.

And we are welcoming you to the chambers.

This meeting is now in session.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Our first order of business is the invocation and pledge of allegiance.

Please recognize our council chaplain, Councilmember Kennemar.

Thank you, Mr.

Floor Leader.

Tonight, our invocation is being delivered by Pastor Chris Tomlinson.

He is the lead pastor of Destiny Church of Jacksonville, a thriving non-denominational church dedicated to helping people know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference.

In addition to his role as pastor, Chris is also a small business owner and a voice of leadership in Jacksonville, committed to seeing both people and the city flourish.

He and his wife, Jody have been married for 28 years, and together they're the proud parents of three daughters.

Please receive Pastor Chris Tomlinson.

Good evening, everyone.

It's an honor to be here with you guys once again.

As a pastor in this wonderful city, I get the front row view into the lives of those who these policies and decisions here impact.

And I want to say to each and every one of you, thank you.

What you do makes a difference more than you'll ever know.

And I also want to say to you, you guys are doing a good job.

I'm sure that's probably something you don't hear a whole lot from this podium, but I just want you to know that it is absolutely true.

It's easy for people to criticize from the cheap seats when they've not chose to be on the field.

You guys have chose to be on the field.

You've chosen the weight of responsibility.

And for that, we are grateful, and our city is better because of it.

So thank you guys.

I'm reminded of a scripture as I was on the way to pray.

It's James chapter one and verse 17.

And it says that every good and perfect gift comes from heaven above.

And so to begin this meeting, we want to go to God and acknowledge that all wisdom comes from him, that we're not led by emotion, but that we're led by his spirit.

So I'd like for us to just ask for God's divine wisdom and his guidance and his covering over this meeting.

So would you guys bow your heads and join me in prayer if you would, please.

Heavenly Father, we come before you, Lord, with humility and gratitude in our hearts.

We acknowledge that every ounce of wisdom, every ounce of justice, every ounce of truth, it comes from you alone.

And so, Lord, we invite you to reign over this meeting and over this city.

I pray for every leader that's in this room.

Strengthen their hearts when the weight feels unbearable.

Sharpen their minds whenever the choices are complex, and steady their resolve when the path is unpopular but right.

Let them be men and women who lead not out of the fear of criticism, but out of the fear of the Lord.

Father, I ask that unity would rise higher than division, that clarity would cut through confusion, and that integrity would be the standard by which every decision is measured.

Let this council be known not only for what they decide, but for how they decide, with honor, with wisdom, and with courage.

Bless Jacksonville, Lord.

Watch over our neighborhoods and schools, our families and first responders, our businesses and our leaders.

Let this be a city that doesn't just grow in size but grows in righteousness.

A city that lifts the hurting, that protects the vulnerable, and that stands as a beacon of hope and justice.

And tonight, I pray that your presence would fill this room in such a way that every conversation, every vote, and every action carries a sense of divine purpose.

Let the impact of this meeting ripple out beyond these walls and into the very fabric of our city for generations to come.

And we ask all of this in the mighty name of the Son of God in Jesus' name, and would all the saints who join me in saying Amen.

Thank you.

19 present.

Thank you.

Next up is the approval of the minutes from the regular council meeting of April 14th.

I move the approval.

We've got a motion and a second on the approval of the minutes.

All in favor of the minutes being approved, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any post saying nay, the minutes are approved.

Mr.

President, we have four communications from the mayor's office and others.

Would you like them read or filed with legislative service?

Let's go ahead and get them filed, please.

Very well, sir.

We have three presentations tonight.

Our first presentation is by Councilmember Matt Carlucci honoring and commending KE Haas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville.

Mr.

Teal, please read the resolution.

Resolution 2026 44.

K.

E.

Haas serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Groundwork Jacksonville, the City of Jacksonville's nonprofit partner dedicated to developing the Emerald Trail and restoring McCoy's Creek and Hogan's Creek.

On December 11th, 2025, the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the nation's largest trail organization named KE Haas is the 2025 Doppelt Family Rail Trail Champion, a prestigious award honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the rail trail movement.

Ms.

Ehace is recognized nationally for modeling a community-driven approach anchored in public-private partnership to develop the Emerald Trail, a 30-mile linear park system that will connect 14 historic neighborhoods and downtown Jacksonville to local trails, parks, schools, and businesses.

Under KE Haas's leadership, the Emerald Trail Master Plan was adopted by the City Council in 2019, and the first segment, the La Villa Link, opened in May 2024, serving as the catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and demonstrating the impact of walking and biking infrastructure on the region.

Ms.

strategy ensures the residents have a seat at the table and a voice in shaping their neighborhoods, building trust and social capital while addressing environmental concerns and providing opportunities for the 70% of Urban Core residents who are considered low income.

The City Council desires to recognize K.

E.

Haas for her vision, dedication, and the national acclaim she has brought to the city of Jacksonville through her work to create a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Jacksonville.

The City Council hereby honors and commends Kay Haas upon being named the 2025 Doppelt Family Rail Trail Champion and expresses its profound appreciation for her tireless efforts in leading the development of the Emerald Trail and the restoration of Jacksonville's urban creeks.

Okay.

Okay.

All the board to come up here us here tonight.

Thank you, Council President, for reading that.

I appreciate it.

We have the uh resolution that uh we can present uh Ms.

Z.

Haas.

Okay.

Well, I I want to say a few words, Mr.

President, if I could.

Yes.

Is that all right?

Yes, sir.

Okay, good.

Thank you.

Just a few.

Um just a few comments about the uh trail itself.

I thought might be interesting to you all to know because we've invested a lot uh in this trail.

Uh 4.6 miles have been completed.

2.6 miles are now uh nearly um completion and are under construction.

6.3 miles are in design and 14.6 miles already for design.

Now, this is not only a quality of life uh trail that people can enjoy and walk on, ride bikes on and enjoy family activities, but it's an environmental uh mission as well as it has uh kicked off the construction and the cleanup of McCoy's Creek.

And some of y'all, I think I've seen the work has to be gone that has begun and taken place and been completed at McCoy's Creek.

And that's been a it's been such a long time coming, the work at McCoy's Creek.

Actually, a natural fishing habitat.

Uh it's shoreline, it's gonna be like it was once upon a time.

It's just gonna be amazing.

People will be able to kayak there.

This organization has raised nearly 30 million dollars from different types of events, basically like uh cake sales to uh any other kind of you can't raise 30 million with a cake sale.

Well, they I've been to the cake sales and I've given money, and you guys have been amazing with the way that you have raised dollars, and um the uh the S line of the Emerald Trail has had hundreds of trips per day, every day, hundreds of trips.

So this is not a trail that's not used, it is used hundreds of trips, and the Fuller Warren, over 800 trips per day, and over 400,000 a year, and it's not even complete.

And what it's going to do to transform our urban core and to clean it up and to make it uh beautiful again and allow us to have pride in the beginnings of Jacksonville.

That's gonna be amazing.

And uh, this little lady named KE Haas has taken it over and just done such a fabulous job and uh her uh board.

I wish we could get everybody a chance to say something, and uh I know my council president would never allow me to do that.

Probably not, but you brought Carrie Stewart with you, so that gives you a bonus.

So if you need to find out, you can wrap it up.

I I'm I'm stretching my luck as it is, but um, I just want to thank y'all.

And I know the council wants to thank you all for what you've done for the city and for our citizens in enhancing the quality of life of Jacksonville.

So I'm gonna turn it over to this young lady.

Uh here's your two microphones.

I think you can reach them.

And you can say it's good, they're flexible.

Um, I just want to thank you guys for the honor because it is an honor to receive it from you.

And um groundwork Jacksonville was brought to the city of Jacksonville wanted a groundwork trust to help it clean up its urban land and waterways.

And I am very proud of the fact that we are actually helping the city to do that.

So thank you.

We got a picture.

We will get done here, and then we're gonna make room for some other presentations.

So thank y'all for being here.

Our second presentation this evening is by Councilmember Clark Murray, acknowledging April 2026 as autism acceptance month.

Mr.

Teal, please read the resolution.

Resolution 2026-16.

The month of April is globally acknowledged as autism acceptance month, dedicated to increasing awareness, understanding, and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by a range of challenges and strengths impacting social communication, behavior, and sensory experiences.

Individuals with autism are valued members of the Jacksonville community whose unique perspectives, talents, and abilities enrich the cultural, educational, and economic fabric of the city.

Families, caregivers, educators, health care professionals, advocates, and other service providers in the city work tirelessly to provide inclusive and supportive environments for individuals with autism.

Raising awareness about autism is essential in promoting early diagnoses, intervention, and access to appropriate resources.

Creating an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with autism involves promoting understanding, empathy, and acceptance within schools, workplaces, homes, and communities.

Promoting awareness and acceptance of individuals with autism helps reduce stigma and strengthens the city's commitment to accessibility, inclusivity, and opportunity.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Jacksonville.

The City Council hereby acknowledges April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month in Jacksonville and encourages all residents to recognize and support individuals with autism and their families.

Thank you for that reading, Council Secretary.

To the distinguished members of City Council, employees, and visitors, I stand before you to honor the work being done in classrooms all over Duval County.

The men and women seated to my right work with students with autism.

The month of April has been recognized as Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s.

President Reagan was the first American leader to formally acknowledge the month throughout the nation in the 80s.

April the second continues to be World Autism Awareness Day.

Locally, autism awareness is celebrated every day for the 180 days each school year for Duval County Public Schools, 24 communications and social skills programs.

These programs provide individualized academic communications and social skills to thousands of students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Many students with autism are nonverbal.

As a result, academic work is supported by speech language pathologists and occupational therapists.

As the month comes to an end, it seems only fitting to honor the personnel who do the tremendous work of educating students with autism with a framed resolution that this council passed in March.

Please come to the podium when I call your name or position.

ESC Executive Director, Amy Valentine, PhD.

ESC Low Incidence Supervisor, Marcy Dunavent.

Representing Duval County Public Schools.

The executive leadership could not do their job if it wasn't for their instructional support personnel team.

Once again, when I call your name, please come to the podium.

Dana Allen, PhD.

Jeff Sherrat, Audrey Jennings.

And if I'm not mistaken, the following personnel were not able to be with us today, but if you are here, please come forward.

Paula Quirk, Jesse Rogers, and Jonathan Freeman.

The 24 CSS programs are led by site coordinators or coaches, of which I am one.

Site coaches, please stand and join us at the podium.

Give these personnel a round of applause.

The site coordinators could not do their work if not for the teachers.

CSS teachers, please stand and join me at the podium.

Next, will the principals of schools with CSS programs please stand and join me at the podium?

As I mentioned earlier, I am a CSS site supervisor or coordinator.

And this was our first year establishing a CSS program at DuPont Middle School.

I want to give special recognition to my principal, DuPont principal, Marilyn Barnwell, PhD.

Please give her a round of applause.

So I told them please watch online, and I will acknowledge you because they do tremendous work and they've been doing that tremendous work for almost 100, almost 180 days, and we are a true team.

And I think one of the reasons why we are a true team is because we are composed of former military personnel, and we get it done.

So I want to acknowledge them because they weren't able to make it.

G.

Yoon Baker, Dennis Lee, Marquise Lundy, Teresa Myers, Kelly Patterson, DeKarlo Yelperton.

Please give them all a round of applause.

And so I present to Dr.

Ballantine a frame resolution, copy of the resolution that was passed in March, acknowledging once again autism awareness month for the month of April.

Thank you.

And then we'll take the picture.

Yeah, that's right.

We're teachers, and we can do it real quick.

Our final presentation of the evening is by Councilmember Ken Amara honoring the Jacksonville University Dolphins women's basketball team for winning the 2026 Atlantic Sun Championship.

Mr.

Till.

Oh, Mr.

Till, please read the resolution.

Thank you.

Resolution 2026-235.

The Jacksonville University Dolphins women's basketball team demonstrated exceptional skill, perseverance, and teamwork throughout the 2025-2026 season, finishing with a remarkable 24 and 8 record and earning the number two seed in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

On March 9th, 2026, at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, the Dolphins emerged victorious at the A-Sun Conference Women's Basketball Championship with a thrilling 66 to 63 overtime victory, beating Austin P State University.

The championship game showcased the team's resilience and determination as the Dolphins battled through a tightly contested matchup that went to overtime before victory was secured.

The raw talent and skill of the whole team were on display with decisive performances by Priscilla Williams, who delivered 13 rebounds and scored 16 points, Carmaia Bowman, who contributed a strong performance with 10 points scored, Kamari Mitchell, who scored the lead in overtime, paving the way to victory, and Makia Miller, who sealed the game with two free throws with only nine seconds left on the clock, earning her the title of the A Sun Tournament's Most Valuable Pier.

Under the leadership of head coach Special Jennings and the dedicated coaching staff, the team has exemplified excellence in athletics, academics, and sportsmanship.

The championship win marks Jacksonville University's second A Sun women's basketball title and the first in nearly a decade, while earning the team a spot in the NCAA women's basketball tournament for only the second time in program history.

The JU Dolphin women's basketball team's achievement brings pride and national recognition to the city of Jacksonville and serves as an inspiration for student athletes throughout Northeast Florida.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Jacksonville.

The City Council hereby honors the JU Dolphins women's basketball team for their victory in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and congratulates the players, coaches, and staff for their extraordinary accomplishment.

To the leadership and the members of this body, thank you for the opportunity to uh be able to recognize Jacksonville University's women's basketball team for the success that they have accomplished this season.

As Councilmember Tyrone Clark Murray was here, I was thinking about how life is a classroom.

And their lessons we can learn from life, what to do and what not to do.

And the lesson that we've learned from their accomplishment is that simply this team success will bring individual success.

But in order for a team to be successful, there has to be sacrifices, individual sacrifices.

There has to be trust, and they all have to buy into the same value.

Because individually, they can win medals, but collectively, collaboratively, they can bring home the championship.

And that's what they did.

And my encouragement to them as they uh about to embark on a new season is simply do it again.

I know the second time is usually harder, but in the words of Thomas Pain, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

So they can accomplish it again.

In fact, this is the second win in a very short period of time, if I remember correctly.

Joining me is uh City Council pres uh uh former president uh Ron Salem, who is also a very proud Arlington resident, and representing the team tonight is the athletic director, uh Alex uh Gilbert, as well as the coach, Special Jennings, who just inked a new contract, as well as the uh commissioner of the uh Atlantic Atlantic Sun Conference, which is headquartered here in Jacksonville, uh, Mr.

Jeff Bacon, Councilmember, if you want to say something, and then we'll open it up to the recipient.

Just very quickly, it's uh I I go back to the early 1970s when JU was uh in the NCAA's, and it's so neat.

Uh I I watched the uh championship game and I watched him in the tournament, and it's just so much for Jacksonville to see them in that final uh 64.

And I just hope we can continue to do it.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

And on behalf of Jacksonville University, Jacksonville Athletics, Jacksonville Women's Basketball, we would just like to take this moment to thank the entire city council, uh, specifically from District One Kennemaro and Joe Johnson for helping us secure this resolution and being part of this.

It means a great deal to us.

Um means a great deal to our young women, and and as it's been said, um the games are played, championships are won.

But what we always hope is that our young women, our young men, in this case our young women represent the university well, represent the city well, and make the city proud.

And it's been talked about that we'll be back here again uh to go for championship number three, and we've got the right leader in special Jennings doing that here for us, who just uh did sign a new contract.

He'll share, she'll share a little bit about the team.

Thanks so much.

Hi, thank you.

Um first off, I stand here giving thanks.

Um, as the pastor said earlier, thank you so much for allowing us to be here um for this for this recognition.

Um, this recognition belongs to so many people.

Um, you know, I like to start with thanking President Tim Cost um who who brought me here to the city of Jacksonville, um, to our new president, you know, our incoming president uh Lisa Southern, who's been super supportive, um, to our athletic director, um, Alex Rickard Gilbert, who I am definitely biased, but who I think is one of the best in the business when it comes to support and just doing everything possible to make sure that we are growing um as a program um to my staff who work tirelessly um night in and night out to make sure that um everything is is running well um for our program um to our support staff who is also here um who does a lot for our program behind the scenes to make sure that we can travel and then have all the things that we need um to our you know to to our commissioner of our league um Jeff uh Bacon, who does a phenomenal job of making sure that we are competitive and that we have what we need to compete at a high level.

Um, and then lastly, to my wife, who's probably the most important person in my corner who makes sure that um I'm able to get the job done.

And um, so thank you so much.

You know, this is this is a great honor to my players who who have worked uh tremendously, right?

Um they the hard work, the behind the scenes, the things that they go through to even compete and win 20 games, but also to to get to a championship.

And so thank you guys so much.

Um I'll leave you with this, right?

My check rec my track record since we keep talking about getting another championship.

Um I've been known to win more than one, and so that is my hopes that we can do this thing again.

Thank y'all so much.

You good, Commissioner?

Okay.

Come on, guys.

Let's uh here you go.

That goes to you.

Well, you guys are taking the picture.

Councilmember Freeman is in the queue to say uh a few words.

Oh right, Councilmember Freeman is gonna say a few words if you guys can't.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And through the president to uh coach, um I will thank you.

Uh and to the athletic director as well.

One one I just wanted to tell you all uh my daughter had the privilege of attending your summer camp last year, and I'm telling you right now what you just saw there was just a fraction of the energy that you get during practices and during games.

Uh I had the pleasure of following you all.

She's a little point guarded bowls.

Follow you guys over your run this year.

We watched the game on TV.

Um so really look forward to continuing to follow you all.

Great job, ladies, and uh, you have a fan here.

So thank you so much.

All right, Mr.

Floor later.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Colleagues, at this time I would like to recognize our page tonight.

We have Mr.

Joel St.

Floor, who is a member of the home education program.

Thank you for serving with us tonight.

Well that'll take up quasi-judicial items, the first of which is found on page five.

These items we are now taking up do not include public hearings as they were thoroughly reviewed at the committee level, where public hearings were part of the decision-making process.

Council members are reminded to declare any ex parte communications as soon as we get to that bill.

Item number one, 2026-232.

I move the amendment to grant appeal.

We've got a motion and second on the amendment.

Mr.

Peluso, you recognized.

All right.

All in favor of the amendment, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any post saying a amendment carries?

I move the bill as amended to grant appeal.

All right.

We have a motion and second on the bill as amended to grant the appeal.

Councilmember Peluso.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I stand to declare ex parte uh in favor.

I met with the applicant in the home minor on April twenty twelfth to hear their intentions for the property.

I also have two emails.

Ex parte against an opposition citing the garage facing street and recommend recommending council approve the design approved by the planning commission.

I also want to speak on this bill.

I wasn't sure if there was other ex partes.

Cue is clear.

It's all yours.

I'd like to stand up and speak on this.

This is obviously in my district.

I know it's got a little bit of uh uh conversation in LUZ, and obviously I didn't want to speak too much about it because of um uh because of quasi judicial nature of this.

Uh it is it is a concern of mine um when it comes to the historic overlay that we do anything that goes against it.

Um the garage is not going to destroy the historic overlay.

I know that.

My constituents know that.

It's not it's not something that I believe is is of major uh uh it's not gonna desecrate the the nature of the overlay.

What it is going to do though is small paper cuts, right?

Small cuts, small, small, small changes to the overlay as the years go on, variances, deviations, things like that, in which the planning department and the planning commission both agreed should not have been allowed.

And so, as the as somebody who's lived in the historic overlay for many years, as someone who cares deeply about making sure the integrity of the overlay is kept.

I will be voting no.

I I don't again I don't believe that this destroys the very nature of it.

But what it does do is allow for more and more folks to come in and change things that many many years ago, we as a body and we as a community wanted to get behind to make sure that we weren't gonna see the nature of the neighborhood go down a direction that we didn't want to go down.

Um we we in the district aren't against any development.

We in the district care very much about making sure that what was written on the books and what was agreed upon by this council by former council members and by the planning department continues to move uh uh in the way that it should.

And so I am voting no.

I ask that you also vote no.

However, I understand if if you do not.

Thank you.

All right, that is our last speaker.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

Nine y's, eight nays.

By direction, you have granted the appeal and approved 2026-0232.

On the item two, 2025 0630.

I move to withdraw with refund of fees.

Got a motion second on the withdrawal.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

Just a reminder, the green button is a yes.

The red button is a no.

Please push your buttons when the uh legislation comes up.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you approve the withdrawal of 2025-0630.

Item 3, 2025, 724.

I move the bill.

I have a motion and second on the bill.

There is no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you have approved 2025-0724.

Item 4, 2026, 170.

I move the amendment.

I have a motion and second on the amendment.

I see no one in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay.

The amendment carries.

We've got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0170 as amended.

Item 5, 2025, 174, move the bill.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

Thank you.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action of approved 2026-0174.

Item 6, 2026, 175.

Move the bill.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0175.

Item 7, 2026, 177.

I move to withdrawal.

Got a motion second on the withdrawal.

That will be a ballot vote.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you withdraw on 2026-0177.

Item 8, 2026, 211.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, one nay.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0211.

Item 9, 2026, 212.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

17 yes, 0 and nays.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0212.

We're now on to page eight to take up the consent agenda.

Colleagues, if you want to be out as a co-sponsor on any item, please reach out to legislative services as council rules prohibit items from being pulled for this reason.

Mr.

Teal, would you please read the bills?

2026 185 187 214 215 217 220 2224 225 226 231 236 237 242 243 245 247 248.

Pull 250, 251, 252, 25.

We I think you have an incorrect poll of 2026 252, correct?

Okay, so uh Mr.

Teal, that was not a poll on 252.

Non-pull on 252, 256, 262.

271, 272, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 284.

Mr.

President, we have a poll on 248 by myself and a poll on 262 by Councilmember Johnson.

So I move approval of the consent agenda with the exception of items 2026-248 and 262.

All right, we've got a motion and second on the consent agenda, lest the items that were pulled.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you have approved the consent agenda minus the items pulled.

Item 27, 2026, 248.

I move the bill.

I'm gonna pass the chair to the vice president.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and I will recognize you, sir.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Vice President.

I rise to declare conflict.

I will be abstaining from this legislation as my employer, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida does work in drug prevention with young people and sometimes have applied and received dollars from the opioid grant settlement.

So I will be abstaining due to that conflict.

Thank you, sir.

And Ms.

Pittman, you are recognized.

I would also like to abstain because my employee of the Clara White Mission will perhaps maybe apply for these funding as well.

And the paperwork has been submitted.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Ms.

Pittman.

We have no one else on the queue.

We have a motion and a second on bill 2026 0248.

Let's open the ballot and record your vote.

We need to reopen the ballot, please fifteen yes, zero nays, two abstentions.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0248.

Please recognize Councilmember Johnson.

Councilmember Johnson, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I move to uh amend this bill.

Uh there's some changes.

Uh you'll see them in the floor amendment that's been uh distributed by the general counsel's office.

And I'll speak to the bill once we've done that.

Second.

All right, we got a motion second on the floor amendment.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay?

The amendment carries.

The bill as amended.

All right, Dr.

Johnson, back to you.

Thank you, sir.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Tonight's uh just a recognition.

I want to recognize uh there's not often we get a chance from this day, and I try to be intentional about making recogn recognitions, especially when it comes to resolutions.

Uh this is for somebody who is known in this community as Bigorankin.

Um his official name is Jadon Dexter, which I didn't know, but I for those that don't know.

I worked in radio for years at 92.7 the B, hot 101.5 and other radio stations.

During that time, uh this guy, Big Arrankins had a venue called Cool Runnins, kind of named after the Jamaican Cool Runnins Bobsled team.

But Cool Runnins here in Jacksonville did something that gave not just young people, but people period in the community a place to go, place to have a good time.

It's kind of hard to realize it, but it's been 30 plus years since Cool Runnins came to Jacksonville.

But what he did, and I know this for a fact when I was on the radio and promotions director at the radio station, uh, this guy, Bigor Rankins, would go into communities, not ask questions, not do something big, but go and give gifts to kids for Christmas, buy turkeys for Thanksgiving, and made sure the community gave back because he know where he came from in Jamaica.

So for an immigrant from Jamaica to come to America to do as well as he has and then give back to Jacksonville and then go on to do things internationally with artists from around the world.

I think it's important that we order him honor him.

So I'm so excited that we are uh honoring Bigorankins for his work in the Jacksonville community and thankful and I hope uh colleagues that you'll vote in honoring this man who didn't do it for recognition or accolades, but he did it because it was the right thing to do.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Dr.

Johnson.

As someone who grew up listening to 92.7 the beat, not 933.

We know all about Big Arrankins and the cool runners crew.

All right, please open the ballot, record your vote.

17 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you'll approve 2026-0262.

Mr.

President, that completes our consent agenda.

And with that, we're gonna jump ahead to page 32 to take up certain third reading resolutions starting with item 70, 2026, 206.

I move the amendment.

We've got a motion second on the amendment.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The amendment carries.

Read the bill as amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

17 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you approve 2026-0206.

We're gonna go to item 72 now, 2026-239.

I move the bill.

Got a motion and a second on the bill.

I'm going to recognize past President Freeman.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

After consulting with the Officer General Counsel in reviewing the specifics of the East Side Community Grants Program, I have confirmed that I do not have a conflict that requires me to abstain from voting on this appointment.

Uh the types of programs and projects that would qualify to apply for funding through these grants through this grant program to be awarded to the East Side Grants Committee are not something Miller Electric would directly apply for.

I am also not aware, nor do I have a reason to believe that Miller Electric would be a subcontractor on a project or program that could be funded through this program.

So out of abundance of caution in committee, I abstain, but tonight I'll be voting on these good individuals.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Past President Freeman.

So the bill has been moved and seconded.

Please open the ballot, accord your vote.

Okay.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action to approve 2026 0239.

Item 73, 2026, 240.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot accord your vote.

But before we vote, I think the advice is the advice of general counsel that Mr.

Freeman needs to abstain every time, or has he made his intention clear?

Through the chair.

I I leave it up to Mr.

Freeman whether he wants it clearly on the record for each item.

But if he wants me to clarify, he had originally abstained on the following items 2026 239, 2026 240, 2026, 254, 2026, 255, and 2026 257.

In all instances, after that additional analysis that he referenced in his statement on the last item, we determined that he did not have a need to abstain on any of these items this evening.

All right.

Thank you for the clarification.

All right, open the ballot, accord your vote.

17 yes, zero nays.

By your action you will approve 2026-0240.

I am 74, 2026, 254.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you'll approve 2026-0254.

Item 75, 2026-255, read the bill.

Got motion second on the bill.

There is no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0255.

I am 76, 2026-257.

Move the bill.

Oh, correction.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion second on the amendment.

No one in the queue on the amendment.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

Got a motion second on the bill as amended.

Let the record reflect.

We did have one nay.

Who is in the queue?

Councilwoman Clark Murray, you recognized.

Thank you, President.

I would like to know the amendment, please.

If someone could read the amendment.

That's very curious to be able to do it.

Mr.

Vopoulis.

In this particular instance, why there would be an amendment?

Thank you.

Through the council president to council member Clark Murray.

So the amendment is listed on the blue sheet.

And I just want to clarify and I know you want it on the record.

So it's striking reference to the appointee having a substantial business interest in the Fairfield neighborhood and correcting script scriveners' errors.

Thank you for that.

Through the chair to you.

Did the applicant or the person who is being considered for this particular committee?

Did they express that they live somewhere else in the East side or had a substantial business interest somewhere else in the East side?

Is that an error?

Is that why it's being amended?

Mr.

Rule Chair, you want to answer it or I can take it.

It's my appointment.

Go ahead, Mr.

Rules Chair.

I believe if if I have a right through the uh president, um, I believe his business interest is right across the road.

If this is the correct one, I'm thinking about and because the official neighborhood only included the residential area, it didn't include the industrial area across the street.

Um I believe this is the one, if that's correct, Mr.

President.

That answer your question.

He says through the chair, well, to you, he says across the street, across the street from what Fairfield that was mentioned in the bill.

As business is located in an area known as Fairfield, but the way it was drawn in the in the map, it was only included of the neighborhood where the residences are.

His business is literally across the street.

It's still in the historic east side, just not in the actual Fairfield district.

Okay, so there's it.

So there's an error in regards to the actual um paragraph regarding where that person business interest is located.

That's the error and why it's amended.

All right.

All right, thank you for that.

All right.

So the amendment was already passed, so the bill has been moved and seconded as amended.

Open the ballot court of vote.

17 years, zero and nays.

By your action approved 2026-0257 as amended.

Mr.

President, please recognize our rules, Chair.

Governor Miller, the rules chair.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

We have just approved the following appointments as part of the consent agenda.

If you are in the audience, please stand to be recognized so we may thank you for your public service.

Joseph D.

Stronko to Chief of Patrol Support Division in the Office of the Sheriff.

Shannon Nasworth to the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority, Cody Mashney, to the Five Points Dependent Special District Board of Supervisors, and to the Mobility System Working Group, Beth Breeding, Emily Pierce, Kristen D.

Reid, Brian Small, Michael Herzberg, and Councilman Rockman Johnson.

And to the East Side Grants Committee, Rochelle Stoddard, Dr.

Rudolph, Rudy Jameson Jr., Cleve Warren, James Edwards, and Larry Swink.

Please join me in thanking them for their service.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, I'm now gonna recognize Councilmember Peluso.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I stand uh for two reasons.

The first one is I want to thank this body for um in the consent agenda there was item 2026 0231, which establishes a resolution for bike lanes, dedicated bike lanes in our downtown.

If you go to any other major municipal area in the entire city, or I'm sorry, entire country, you see dedicated bike lanes, uh protected bike lanes, and we just do not have those here in the city of Jacksonville.

I firmly believe that if we have dedicated protected bike lanes, that we're gonna see more people using bikes as a conveyance as a means to get from one place to the other rather than some of the folks who use you know speed bikes as a means of uh of uh pleasure or um you know for sportsmanship.

So I'm very grateful to you guys.

I think that's gonna be huge for our city more than you know.

Uh the other item that I'm standing up to discuss is item number eight, 2026 0211.

I accidentally said no to that vote, but I would like to vote yes.

I'm asking for someone to move to reconsider.

I need someone who was on the prevailing side.

Item number eight.

2026 0211.

Thank you.

Sounds like you have a gracious motion to reconsider from the floor leader and a second from Mr.

Arias.

So uh is that a voice vote for the reconsider, Ms.

Stabopoulos?

All in favor of the reconsider say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The reconsider is on the table.

I move 2026 211.

We got a motion and second on 2026-211.

No one's in the queue.

All in take it to the ballot.

Let's open the ballot record your vote.

My pleasure.

16 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0211.

Colleagues, we're now going to go to page 18 for public comments regarding economic development investment incentives.

Item 41, 2026, 285.

I do not have any public participation cards.

With that, I move the amendment.

All right.

We've got a motion second on the amendment.

No one's in the queue except for Councilmember Diamond, who is recognized.

He's on the bill.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

We've got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

Councilmember Diamond, you're recognized.

Uh, thank Mr.

President, through the president to our incredible auditors.

Can we just confirm there's no completion grants here?

This is all Rev grant, right?

I think people like to know this.

Through the President to Councilmember Diamond, you're correct.

All Rev Grant.

Gotcha.

Just so everyone knows that means this is a targeted tax cut.

So no taxpayer dollars are going out of your pocket into some company, literally just saying you guys are investing a bunch of money, and you get to keep some of the tax dollars that you were actually generating with your investment.

Thanks.

Alrighty.

Councilmember Boylan.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to acknowledge a couple of things and a question for the auditors as well.

Number one, we're talking about a $550 million capital investment in this process.

And I'd appreciate that.

Through the uh through the president to the auditors, do we have any sense of what kind of property taxes VistaCon is presently paying to the city or Johnson and Johnson?

I didn't see it discussed in finance, so I was just curious to know if we actually had a number.

Through the chair to uh or through the president to council member Boylan, my recollection is that they are in excess of four million dollars on their TPP.

Um I do not know on their real property what the taxes are being paid.

I think it's worth noting the fact that the investment they make in property taxes already as a is a business in our community.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Yes, sir.

Next floor leader, Councilmember Lane.

You recognize that.

I was just going to say uh just to echo Councilmember Diamond.

Uh, this is not only uh no cash, it is Rev grant only, significant capital investment going on here, $550 million in two parts of town, uh, two different parts of town that didn't always see the significant as a greater than a 4.0 ROI.

So great project uh great work by Mr.

Randolph and his uh OED team on this one.

All right.

With that being said, open the ballot record your vote.

How many two cards?

16 yes, zero nays.

By interaction you've approved 2026-0285.

It is time for public comments.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to speak, you should have filled out a green public comment card.

No cards will be accepted after 6 p.m.

Council rules call for an allotment of 90 minutes for public comment.

Given the number of cards submitted right now, each speaker will be given three minutes so that all those will uh wishing to speak will have an opportunity to do so.

That is subject to change if we get a last minute rush on cards.

I'll announce five speakers at a time.

When I call your name, please come down to the reserve seats in the front row while waiting your turn to speak.

Your time will not start until you arrive at the podium.

Remember to state your name and address before beginning, or you may say my address is on file.

A speaker may be invited to the green room for further discussion at a council member's discretion.

I will read the first five names now so they can begin to make their way down, and then I will have Mr.

Teal read council rule 4.505 regarding disruption of meetings.

Our first five are Kathleen Pereira, Tony Langles, Latavia Harris, Breno Durden, and Jake Jacobs.

Uh, please come down to the front and sit in the reserve section uh down there to my left.

Mr.

Teal, please read Council Rule 4.505.

Council rule 4.505, disruption of meeting.

Any person who disrupts a regular meeting of the city council, standing committees, special or select committees, subcommittees, or any other public meeting presided over by a city council member, may be forthwith barred, removed, or otherwise ejected in the discretion of the presiding officer from further attendance at that meeting.

If necessary, due to the nature of the disruption, the audience may be cleared from the council chambers or meeting location in the discretion of the presiding officer.

Any person who refuses to leave the city council chamber may be subject to arrest.

Thank you, Mr.

Teal.

Legislative services.

Note the start time is 559, and Miss Pereira, you have the floor.

My name is Kathleen Prairie.

My information is on file.

There's something seriously wrong with the mechanisms of city growth when developers, especially the non-local type, merely have to pay some questionable fee to some austere bank or buy some land in Neverland to mitigate destroying irreparable swamps and orb wetlands.

Makes you wonder whether all the developers in the state really just end up buying and owning the same piece of property over and over again, since swamps and wetlands are now the fastest evaporating commodities.

There is also something seriously cynical and even sinister about foisting radical bad idea projects, such as the Morgue liquor store, oil depot, slaughterhouse, and now maybe a 15,000 seat soccer stadium right on neighborhoods with seniority, all in the name of we can't stop progress.

Ah contraire.

Yes, we can't we can stop progress because it is more important to protect the integrity and character, which made each of our neighborhoods attractive in the first place than it is to permit over development for the sake of new taxes.

This would mean that the city would have to develop foresight, like codifying the 1995 neighborhood bill of rights, like not allowing new development to encroach upon any neighborhood, especially if it causes residents to have to buy flood insurance for the first time to endure the developments, new smells, noises, lights, crime, or other pollutants, or to have uh to accept having their property values plunge.

Therefore, start by saying no to developers more often than not and do it all in the name of the quality of life for all citizens.

It would be very easy to guarantee.

That is, if once again the city would codify those neighborhood bill of rights, and it would, and if it would actually obey the current city planning laws and comp plan, please do not approve any 15,000 seat state soccer stand in uh St.

John's Town Center.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Tony Lingles.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Tony Langles.

Address is on file.

I'd just like to make a comment uh concerning an issue that was discussed by a number of people here in the last meeting here at this uh city council meeting.

A number of people came forward and said that their first amendment rights were violated when three people were forcefully removed from the city hall on May 27, 2025.

I feel this is totally untrue.

I was at that meeting, and they formulated their position on the Palestinian Israeli issue at that meeting.

As a matter of fact, I feel our rights are violated when they cause a disturbance in the hall interrupting a peaceful meeting.

Thanks to the city council president and JSO for restoring order in the hall.

As a matter of for the record, the jury found Leah Grady guilty of resisting officers at the city council meeting where police say a group of people were disrupting proceedings.

She refused to leave the meeting.

The three individuals were arrested who refused to leave also and becoming combative with officers.

They were charged with resisting an officer without violence.

I noticed that the judge didn't articulate or adjudicate the crime on the First Amendment rights violations.

Negative actions and disruptive behavior have consequences at the city council meetings.

Our rights were violated when we could not attend a peaceful, nonviolent meeting.

So I feel our rights were violated.

You know, they talk about the First Amendment rights.

But anyhow, uh lastly, um, I like to commend uh floor leader, uh District 3 Councilman uh Will Lannon.

He does an outstanding job managing, organizing and controlling the speaker cards on the amendments and ordinances uh being addressed at these meetings.

He makes these tasks look easy, but he has a complex and methodical responsibility.

He keeps the uh meeting flowing smoothly.

I mean, uh, if I was up there, I'd be saying, where are we at?

You know, what you know, what ordinance or amendment are we on?

Can somebody help me out here a little bit?

But uh councilman Lynn Lennon, he does outstanding job uh with keeping the smooth uh meeting moving smoothly.

So thank you.

You have 38 seconds left, uh, Mr.

Langles.

You want to keep on going.

I could I could give you some more praise and commendations there, uh District 3 councilman.

That's what we should go with that.

Want to make sure you had all your time.

Uh next up.

Uh Miss Latavia Harris.

Uh my name is Latavi Harris.

My address is on file.

Um, part of this journey is that I just understood the definition of listening and hearing is totally not the same.

When we came to you guys, you have yet to see anyone come up here and have a need for speed.

It would all we wanted to do was do it right the first time.

I heard someone the last time say the process was so long and drawn out.

That's because you didn't listen to us.

So we had to go and incorporate the inspect the general department to come help us out because no one was hearing us.

We were saying it, and we had meetings, no one listened to us.

Same thing we're trying to stress with you with Rudy Jameson, Cleve Warren.

No one is listening.

So this time I took it a step further.

So in a couple of months, we're gonna wish we would have listened because we're gonna be right back where we are.

Everyone was talking, but no one asked Rochelle stuttered.

How did you learn about this board?

No one asked Cleve Warren, who told you about this board.

Everyone just assumed, and no one even followed the process of the protocol to fill out the application and to have the interview.

Yes, we do know some of the council members met with some, and some of those members also said the issues they had with some of the board members.

Here we are again, not listening to the community.

So if you guys like for me to always go get the executive branch or another government branch to step in, for you could have did it right the first time.

I'm totally fine with that.

You know, you y'all don't understand because no one listens, no one looks, no one asks the questions.

You think we just come here because I have nothing to do all day?

No, but it's a reason we fought for the model that we had to fight for.

We met with several people who went behind our back and did different things.

And here's the inspector general.

Come and tell you exactly what we've been saying to you for months.

We are not in a rush for this process.

Why are you guys rushing it?

This is my thing.

I've not been here.

One time and someone came up and said, Well, we need to hurry up and get this money home.

It's our money.

It belongs to us.

It came off the backs of the people in my community.

Rochelle Stutter can't even tell you three streets that belong to A.

Philip Randolph.

She has never in her life even probably met anyone.

I had the same reservation by James Edwards.

But you know what I did?

I went out 21st in Phoenix.

Everybody knew him.

Everybody's dealt with his family.

Did you guys do that?

No, no one never asked.

How did you know about this board?

You just said, yeah, you look like a subject matter expert.

I have three kids, put them in college by myself.

I'm a subject matter expert.

All we asked you guys was to do it right.

But nobody wanted to do it right because you see late people, and Dr.

Jameson is gonna bite y'all in the butt.

That's all I have to say.

I would like to meet you in the grim room if you like.

Uh next up, Breno Durden.

Breno Durden.

Okay, Jake Jacobs.

And I'll call Mr.

Durden's card one more time after this.

14155 Pine Island Drive.

I would like to thank Councilman Rory Diamond for committing to introduce the line item in this year's budget for a uh watershed analysis, which is essential for determining the source of the sediment buildup that's occurring in Hog Penn Creek.

There are at least three factors that are uh causing the settlement buildup.

One is the Sandalwood Canal, the second is the expansion of the San Pablo Road, and the third is utility work that was performed by JEA within the Hog Pen Creek.

To what extent each of those factors impacted and caused the subman buildup, we don't know without first having the study performed.

And when that study, that'll be the first step toward developing long-term effective solutions.

My request is that enough um money is set aside from Councilman Diamond's one million dollar budget to uh ensure that uh the study is properly scoped and performed properly.

Uh, this is uh an environmental crisis that we're facing here at Hog Pine Creek, and I want to make sure it's done properly so that uh we don't see further degradation to the environment, and we have long-term solutions put into place.

Um I would like my neighbors from the Hog Pine Creek area to stand up to show the council how many of us are here uh and impacted, and I appreciate um your attention to this matter.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Uh, next five speakers, please come on down.

Denise Scott, David Vandegriff, Charlie Bender, Latrice Bell, and Nathan Ballantyne.

And Ms.

Scott, you can go straight to the podium.

Good evening.

My name is Denise Scott, and my address is on file.

The pastor this evening gave the invocation, and he said that it's easier to criticize from the chief seats.

Um, I need him to understand that that's what the Constitution allows us to do.

Also, he also prayed that this city um learns how to lift up the hurting and protect the vulnerable.

Undoubtedly, he hasn't seen some of the past policies that you all have made.

Okay, so let's start with 1619, the translate transatlantic slave trade.

Um, just last month, United Nations General Assembly classified that that slave trade was the gravest crime against humanity.

So imagine over 400 years of dehumanized.

I can't even say the word.

Y'all know what I'm saying.

After the so-called free people, you came up with black codes.

You know, another way just to restrict the freedom and to force them back into um the labor-based slave conditions.

And if that wasn't enough, you came up with Jim Crow laws, you know.

You remember um separate but equal.

So you can reinforce the hate and segregation.

After all that came the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended that segregation and banned um employment discrimination.

There were protections from that open hatred.

So my all my elders and my ancestors, all of that, all they ever asked for was equality, never retribution, never retribution for the harm they received.

So here we are in 2026, and you folks are using diversity, equity, and inclusion as if it's dirty words.

Our governor, Ryan de Racist, he signed into law prohibiting DEI and has the audacity to say that white men have been discriminated against.

So I have a question.

Y'all know Joanne Reed.

She asked the question, why y'all so angry?

You got the White House, you got both houses in Congress.

She has the Supreme Court um kissing the uh the boots of the president.

You got legal racial profiling, you got DEI the end, you got affirmative action in, you get the best jobs, especially when you're not qualified.

You ban our books, you ban history and museums, you got it where folks so afraid to say black.

Why are you so angry?

The problem is white men and their addiction to power.

We should all understand by now that what makes America great again, what it really meant was to what makes white mediocre men in charge again.

But don't forget what Maya Angelou said and what she meant when she in that poem that we I rise, we overcome injustice and prejudice with the unimmutable strength of the human spirit.

We rise despite your injustices.

Next up, David VandyGriff.

And then Charlie Bender, Latrice Bell, and Nathan Mountine.

Go ahead, sir.

Good evening.

My name is David Vandegraef, addresses on file.

I'm here to speak tonight about the 3 a.m.

extension on the liquor law.

When you guys were doing the amendments, I would like to suggest from a citizen, a small business owner, and a nonprofit owner here in a city that I've been here now for over 16 years doing business, that we do consider Brooklyn as part of the downtown area because it is part of the downtown area.

Also, the downtown investment authority includes Brooklyn.

So there's no reason why we should not extend the 3 AM law for those areas in the Brooklyn area.

There are multiple businesses that would benefit from this.

You're looking at a growing population of 1,500 new units coming online.

Most of those units are going to be in the 30 and the 40-year age range.

They don't want to have to drive to go have a drink.

If they're out and about, you can walk there in the district.

That's what it was designed for.

That's why Brooklyn has thrived.

We don't need to hold any section, especially a part of the downtown area back.

And there's a wonderful business owner that I've known that I've worked with now for 16 years, Stacy with Denga Hoots Night Club.

She has had the Hoose Night Club for 26 years.

The club's been there for 41 years.

She has ran her business the right way.

She's paid her taxes, she's obeyed the city ordinances and the laws.

Also, you have a garden greenhouse bar that's in within the Brooklyn area there.

As we all know, the restaurants in that area have had past history of survival.

So we want to make sure that when people are investing in building these buildings there, that we are giving them the best chance to have businesses, small businesses go in that area that are going to actually survive.

And when we think about small businesses, 50% of Jacksonville employees.

And this is not a big ask.

But what the revenue would generate, and then the tax revenue that the city would gain off that may be a little smaller than what we all like, but it is part of what keeps our city growing.

So I would really, really honestly like to request that you make a special amendment to make sure that Brooklyn is included in the 3 AM district.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Charlie Bender.

My name is Charlie Bender.

I live at 1383 Four Winds Court in Holiday Harbor.

I was here on April 14th to speak to you about the same thing I'm going to speak to you about tonight.

So I, in an effort not to repeat myself, I'll keep it short, but I am here to ask the council and specifically Rory Diamond to fund an ecological study of the Sandalwood Canal.

As you just heard one of my neighbors speak about the three different uh situations that may be affecting the silk built-up of the natural creek which we all live on.

The Sandalwood Canal to me appears to be one of the most egregious, as it is a canal specifically built by the city of Jacksonville to help develop the Kernan and Hodges area for uh housing.

All of those retention ponds uh eventually flow into Hog Penn Creek and no maintenance has been done on the Sandalwood Canal for 20 plus years.

Uh weirs were not built, silk ponds were not maintained, and now Hogpen Creek ecologically is paying the price.

So I would ask you once again to fund just a study to find out what exactly is going on.

As again, my neighbor said whether that be JEA work or whether that be DOT work on the uh recent uh San Pablo Road renovation.

These things need to be studied so that we can maintain a natural waterway uh in uh Jacksonville, just as you guys have worked so hard to look at Hogan's Creek and the great things that you've done here.

Hogpen Creek deserves that same sort of effort.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

Next up, Latrice Bell.

Good afternoon.

Leitris Bell, my address is on file.

The DEP F D O Torge Crater Bridge was not safe for people to fish off.

But people fish under it, the boaters drive under it, and from 2003 to 26.

The state truck has drove on the bus every on the bridge every day, once or twice a day.

Heavy equipment.

People don't make bridges for heavy equipment, does.

As also the bridge crew is requesting, has requested two years ago that the mayor took a tour with us to the bridge to see what was going on down there with her people.

She said she would two years ago.

She has not made it yet.

Once again, a year ago, she accepted another invitation to come down there and tour the bridge.

Negative, she had not showed up yet.

We said we are overlooked, been overlooked, and we're wondering why we overlooked.

At this time, when we said that they had took our funds that were allocated towards the bridge and built a boat ramp.

Well, they went down at each week and took the uh symbol off that stated they had built that uh boat ramp.

They may deny that they came yesterday.

I was there yesterday, and here drives the truck on the bridge, the heavy equipment.

So I just took out my cell phone, and I just took a picture of the heavy equipment, trucks.

This is what makes bridges fall.

All we want to do is fish.

Um city councilman, city councilman's at large.

We want to find out where our money is going.

All right, for 20 from 2023 to 2026, this city, Duval County taxpayers have been paying $35,000 for the maintenance and upkeep of a closed bridge.

Ron Salem and his crew has always investigated, finding where our tax dollars are going.

This is misusage of funds, federal dollars.

They are collecting money for a mile-long bridge, and only a fourth of a bridge is open.

That's federal funds.

That money is given towards the bridge.

And that's misuses of funds because only a fourth of the bridge is open.

And we want those chains take taken off the Duval County side.

They are buying everything down Hicks to Drive.

They are overlooking the George Creative Bridge, Fish and Pierce State Park, and my time is up.

Thank you.

Ma'am, Councilmember Miller would like to talk to you in the Bob Johnson room over here.

Next up is Nathan Ballantine, and then the five after that, come on down, please.

Samantha Sears, Miriam Corney, Blake Harper, Tom.

I believe this is Gillalina from uh Hog Pen Creek, and then Dennis Sanchez.

Uh go ahead, Mr.

Bounty.

Good evening.

My name's Nathan Ballantyne.

Our farm is at 125 East 7th Street.

Um, but folks may better know me by my overalls.

Uh for 10 years, I've been growing and supporting other folks to grow groceries for self and neighbor here in Jacksonville.

This evening, I've uh I've seen customers and colleagues in this work, both in the audience and up on the dais.

So it's good to know I'm among friends uh since city council is not really my um stomping grounds.

I'm here to introduce you to and speak in support of and offer you a face to put with the free to garden act.

This draft legislation legislation will amend the zoning code to make community market gardens permissible by right in Jacksonville.

If you haven't seen it yet, we're hoping to have it in your inbox in the near future.

Um, and for those on City Council on land use, we'd love to meet with you.

The obvious question is who is we for over three years.

Our own small farm, uh, our own small team of farmers and overalls have been working in coalition with the Duval Food Policy Council, the Duval Ag Council, the Duval Urban Ag Council, Blue Zones with feedback and encouragement from garden club leaders, I think extension agents, Farm Bureau, SPAR leadership, and um the mayor's office, as well as countless community garden leaders and other urban farmers.

The Free to Garden Act is um neighborhood friendly, common um community health benefiting, well supported common sense legislation that would be added to the uh land use zoning code um to uh to make community gardens and market gardens permissible by right.

It is um um overwhelmingly difficult to try to grow food with and for our neighbors um in a legal matter.

Um it should have been added to the zoning code decades ago, but somebody had to make it happen, and somebody had to get it passed, and we're hoping that uh y'all will be those people.

To close, I'd like to share an amended version of the Serenity Prayer.

God grant us the serenity to accept the red tape, we must walk through courage to advocate for policy in need of change and wisdom to know the difference.

Oh, and if you'd like to take the fresh onion challenge for the Free to Garden Act, I've got you covered.

So uh thank you, appreciate it.

Look forward to working with y'all.

Thank you.

Next up, Samantha Sears.

Samantha Sears address on file.

Real quick, I feel like we're missing uh quite a few of us up there, so just want to mention that.

I feel like we're not getting a full audience from you all, but here we are.

I just have a couple of items to mention.

First, you know, I think being a council member should be a full-time position.

I don't think it's enough time for you all to be a part-time position for you.

I think there's so many things that are going on in the city.

Maybe we should, I don't know how that would happen, but I I just would like to say that I think it should be a full-time position.

I know some of you do take it as a full-time position with how much you do work and listen to the community, but I think that it being a part-time position almost makes it seem as though you know it's not giving you, it doesn't give you a reasonable amount of time to review all the different items that come before you on your desks.

Um, I also would like to mention that obviously I'm against overdevelopment.

I think maybe we should make it an incentive to developers that they have to either purchase or work with whoever owns a dilapidated piece of commercial property.

We don't even have to do residential.

If you do like a uh abandoned building and kind of incentivize them before they can go into these rural areas, that they actually have to work with the community to make it make a mixed-use building so that way they can make their money that they want, and then on top of that, have a storefront that that can actually provide for the community and provide jobs for that community, and that would bring less um cars to that area that would keep people from having to drive all over Jacksonville.

them before they can go into these rural areas that they actually have to work with the communities make it make a mixed use building so that way they can make their money that they want and then on top of that have a storefront that that can actually provide for the community and provide jobs for that community and that would bring less um cars to that area that would keep people from having to drive all over Jacksonville as you know Jacksonville is a very large city it's made up of many different places and I think that it's important that we look into making some of these areas walkable obviously all of Jacksonville cannot be walkable it's too large for that but there are some areas I know downtown one of Brooklyn pretty much the only areas walkable and we could make this area that's outside of City Hall a walkable area but as you all notice after 5 p.m it's a deserted area so I think that if we talk to the developers you know not me as we you as we because they don't care about what I have to say they do care about what you all have to say though so if you incentivize them maybe give them a little I hate to say tax break but if it really has to go there then why not give them a tax break make them fill in those empty buildings that are downtown that are around the areas and make them into mixed use buildings it's really we have all these Florida strip malls every Florida strip mall could be a mixed use building it's insane what we have let developers do to the state of Florida and I think it's not limited to Jacksonville it's not limited to any certain area of Florida it's all of Florida and we have just allowed this horrible structures and architecture run through our state and letting our wildlife and everything be decimated for no reason thank you.

Thank you next up Miriam Corney Good evening my name is Miriam Corney and my information is on file I'll apologize in advance this is my first time to do this I would like to request you council members to not approve the development of Big Island Swamp Preserve for the sporting jack soccer stadium I'm concerned with the rising water levels disturbing the protected animals who inhabit the swamp and the road infrastructure cannot afford the increase of additional traffic not to mention it'll raise the water level and I'll have to get flood insurance that's all I have to say thank you.

Thank you man Blake Harper I feel rich tonight.

My name is Blake Information on file I was listening to Ed Dean on WBOB shout out to Ed when uh a somebody that many of us know here made a comment about what happens here at City Council.

Basically what happens is you vote on something and you go on to the next one the reality is that is what is is what happens the problem is that you don't face the consequences of your decisions now here's the deal why do I say that to you last week the Southern Poverty Law Center was caught spending three million dollars inciting racial violence in particular Unite the right at Clarksville.

And when Clarksville came about they started taking down statues left and right so here we have this uh critical race theory DEI organization fomenting racial violence and division in our city in our country and of course it comes here to Jacksonville in form of take it take them down jacks and try to take down the statues um I have stood before you and discussed with you the actual facts of the history of Jacksonville the efforts to try to expand the history of Jacksonville have established what the situation was you all decided to uh make a compromise my my comment to you is that I you I used to think about a public uh officials in one of two versions uh one of two ways either a public servant or or politician I now think of politicians in the standpoint of uh public servants in terms of excuse me elected officials in terms of their management style and how their backbone are you a Winston Churchill or you are Neville Chamberlain?

Neville Chamberlain appeased evil turned their his back on the bad things that were happening as a result we had a world war this country is divided over false narratives over over twisting of facts people are not standing up recognize and it's kind of like the Fram oil commercial we'll pay you now we're gonna pay me now or pay me later the sooner we start dwelling on the facts and making decisions based on the facts then what's going to happen is we're gonna get our situation solved.

But as long as we keep kicking our the can down the road as we did with the renaming of the Confederate street we're gonna continue to be dealing with emotions and false information and false narratives and all that does is make things worse for all of us.

Thank you.

I believe that's how you pronounce this last name.

Tom G from Pine Island Road.

Not here.

Okay.

Dennis Sanchez.

And then after Dennis, it's going to be Nancy Murray Settle, Brad Huntley, Jerry Woodham, Deborah Delore, and Denise Cook.

Go ahead, Mr.

Sanchez.

My name is Dennis Sanchez.

My address is on file.

And today again I'm representing the Together East Coalition Incorporated.

As a colleague of mine, Latavia came in earlier and discussed of the issues that have been going on with the CBA meeting and the rubber stamp voting that most of the council members just did.

So I want to discuss the considerate or the considerate amount of community trust between the community and the government.

So with the CBA meeting that many council members decided on, it took pretty much almost a year to come up with a decision.

Qualifications for the board members, which is the discussion that we're having an issue with right now.

It says the mayor and the council president shall endeavor, right?

Meaning they will attempt to follow the qualifications of being a resident of the east side and having considerate business interest in the community.

Endeavor, meaning they have a choice whether they want to follow it or not, is not required.

Right.

So this loophole was built into the ordinance itself.

So if this loophole was built in there, then why did we spend so many such such a long time to get this done?

And then we come back to the reason of it wasn't done right the first time.

And then when it comes time when the community actually speaks out about it, there's an issue because now we're in a rush, right?

We spent so much time to get this done, and it we there's four million dollars already in the in the account that has to be used, so we're in a rush, but if it were be if it would have been done right the first time, we would not be in this position.

So the main question that my colleague also brought up is Rudy Jameson.

So, yes, he's from the community.

He's human rights commission, but he was also board member of Lyft Jacks.

Now, when he came up in the rules committee, his defense with when we spoke out against him being a member was that the when we talked about the issue with him not defending tenants that he had lunch with, and he said that it had to be deferred to the management company of Lyft Jacks.

Now, this management company did nothing, and he him being in the human rights commission, he also did not follow up.

But then when James Match actually did something, court enforcement showed up within weeks, and then you had citations.

So how you have that is pure proof of conflict of interest, yet you guys rubber stamped his vote.

Thank you.

Calling for the last time, Tom Gillalina, uh he lives on Pine Island.

Okay, he did not put what he wanted to speak about.

Nancy Murray Settle.

Nancy Murray Settle, addresses on file.

Tonight I am speaking in support of 260356, determining the location of the jail.

It's it being introduced by UmCongress or Councilmember Peluso.

I come here most every other Tuesday because I believe in civic engagement.

It's needed right now, more than ever.

And it seems very few leadership voices are speaking for the middle class and the working class citizens.

I think we're still at this point hanging on to our representative democracy, and I implore all of you to listen and communicate with citizens and work to improve our city.

I know that we can do it.

The city is made up, we know, of neighborhoods and communities, and it's that robust community engagement.

That's a requirement to ensure that we have a strong republic.

The site selection for the new jail needs to have all the stakeholders involved.

And it's ordinance 0356 recommends the new site for the jail should not be considered to be placed in a historically red line community.

We've seen the damage that that does in our communities, and we don't want to perpetuate that.

Jacksonville has so much potential and watching so much land use and zoning taking up the city council.

I appreciate the complexities of this.

We know from the work done at UNF that affordable housing is a top concern of citizens.

And the ideas of density and intensity that go into creating affordable housing as well as financial considerations are very complex.

I do support also the housing Jacks Housing Association funding multifamily housing revenue bonds.

That's an ordinances 0353 and 0354 today for affordable housing.

We can improve the city.

Clearly, this just three minutes isn't enough.

We need to bring people into the table.

We can do this.

We're human beings.

We have brains.

We can do better than this.

I understand that there's a tension between community desire sometime and the overall larger goals of the city.

And these decisions are hard, and the way we can get around them is through communication, listening.

Someone said earlier, hearing and listening, they're different things.

Developers, citizens, city leaders.

We need to find that sweet spot where everybody feels heard, validated, and gets something that they want.

My name is Brad Huntley.

I live at 13927 Shipwreck Circle North and Holiday Harbor.

I'm here in support of what some of my neighbors have spoken to in regards to a water study for Hogpin Creek.

Hog Pink Creek runs east west from San Pablo to the intercoastal waterway.

During the low tide periods, which is there's six and a half hours each tide is that.

So two a day.

So for 13 hours out of the day, about half of the creek has no water usage or no usage for recreation, swimming, fishing.

What have you?

It's a severe problem.

But we can't fix it unless we know what the problem is first.

That's why the water study to determine where the siltation is coming from so that we can resolve this issue.

We need your help.

Thank you so much.

Chaplain Jerry Woodham, address on file.

I want to say thank you for keeping part of Confederate Street and not destroying all our history.

We need to be very careful.

We need to preserve our history so our young can learn from it.

Proverbs 29 2 says, when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.

But when the wicked rule, the people mourn.

Be wise in your decisions.

You've been given authority.

Use it wisely.

Don't allow a soccer field to be put in a quiet neighborhood where they will deal with traffic and lights and noise.

They have a right to have a quiet home.

Put it somewhere where there's plenty of room and they can enjoy their games.

And don't build on our wetlands.

So many times I've heard give them an exemption.

They can build on the wetlands.

Wetlands are to be preserved.

And don't forget these poor people that I've heard time and time again that are fighting to have the George Crady Bridge taken care of.

That money was given somewhere.

Somebody took it.

Please fix the problem so these people can fish.

This is Florida.

This is generations of people that have fished on the bridge and in the area.

And some of them want to use it just to feed their families.

So please consider that.

And do a good thing.

Be wise.

And last of all, find a way to pay or subsidize the disability bus that our JTA raise the fee, and we heard so many of them come here and tell you how that is going to hurt them because they're on limited incomes.

This is a large city.

We should be able to provide for the disabled.

Most cities do.

So think about it.

God bless and good night.

Thank you, ma'am.

Deborah Delor.

D E L O R Blue's last name.

Is she here?

Okay.

Denise Cook.

Deborah Delor or Denise Cook.

Okay.

The next five after that will be Jared Jacobs, Debbie Pine, Stacy, I believe this is Ibarra.

Kathy Milston and Anthony Brown.

Go ahead, sir.

Hi, my name is Gerard Jacobs.

My uh address is on file.

I really just wanted to uh say two things to you.

One is uh I really want to congratulate you uh folks for the city uh of Jacksonville and how it's operated.

I moved down to uh Jacksonville about six years ago from uh the Chicago area, and I want you to know that uh I think you're doing a wonderful job running a city that uh at least for me and my family and my friends, uh think it's uh just a tremendous place to live.

And I use I was an elected official uh in Illinois for a couple terms, and I know how much uh public officials like you uh get grief uh from citizens, and sometimes it's a very thankless task.

Uh, I wanted to tell you I personally want to thank you uh for the way you're running the city.

The other thing that I wanted to say is that uh one of the few things that I've been exposed to uh living in Jacksonville for the last six years has been this uh situation at Hog Pun Creek, and I have to tell you it's been a shocking thing to watch.

Uh I've never lived in a city that had uh the sort of canals that you have uh in Jacksonville.

And uh when I first came down uh in Hog Pen Creek, the first time I ever saw Hog Pen Creek, there were manatees uh uh uh uh off the dock of my son's house.

And uh over the last uh five years or so, uh, this has just become an incredibly difficult situation.

I mean, it was like the incredible shrinking hog pen creek, and in my opinion, I'm not a uh engineer or whatever, but uh in my opinion, a huge amount of it had to do with the uh work that was done on uh on the San Pablo uh Boulevard or San Pablo Street.

It uh just as that work got done, uh the water level in the creek, uh the sediment just kept building up and building up uh to the point that at this point when you look at it.

I joke with uh my son that you know at this rate you're gonna have just a big mud uh uh mud creek, not not a water creek behind your house.

Uh so I look, I uh I'm not an engineer, uh, but uh to me, one of the beauties of uh Jacksonville is uh all of these creeks and inlets that we have the and the water uh recreation lifestyle that it allows.

And uh it's just it's a shame what's happening to this hog pen creek, and I really hope that you folks uh can find uh the funds to uh conduct a study on it and figure out what's what's causing it.

Thank you for the thank you, sir.

Uh Debbie Pine, you're next.

Debbie Pine not here.

Okay, Stacy Ibarra.

And then we'll have Kathy Melstein.

I believe that's it, Milstein after her.

Good e good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the council.

Uh, my name is Stacey Ibarra.

My um business address is on file.

I'm here to speak about Brooklyn being um added back on to the 3 a.m.

amendment.

Um, and speaking with that, I want to speak about the small businesses that they're um I want to remind all of you that Brooklyn is part of the downtown investment um organization authority as well as part of the downtown districts.

Um we literally, if you've been to Brooklyn recently, or you authorize everything there, so you should know that we are nothing but the exact same as what you already have for the entertainment district downtown.

We are nothing but small businesses, we are major hotels.

We've got three up now, we've got three or four more coming that all have several hundred rooms available per.

We've got oh gosh, probably 2500 minimum minimum of hotels and I mean of apartments and condos that are there now, and so many more are coming.

We have no residents that are like single family homes.

There is walking ability sidewalks everywhere.

We have everything that the downtown entertainment district has, and we have nothing that could should concern you as far as it being there.

Um we we are an entertainment district.

We are nothing but hotels, restaurants, bars, and uh condos.

This is everything that the um what you're looking for for entertainment district, and I pray that you please consider us and add us on to it.

We are right over the bridge.

Um, it'll be a hop and skip for those that still want to go downtown, but you'll also take care of all of the Riverside and Avondale, Murray Hill, people that don't want to go into the downtown area, but would still like a place to be able to stay, and there's so close to somewhat area to be able to come and visit.

Um, I think it would make a really big difference in our community to not just lock down that one area and say no to everybody else when Brooklyn is part of that area.

We are the downtown district, we are part of the downtown investment authority, and I um ask you to please add us on to the amendment.

Thank you for your time.

Yeah, council member Aries would like to talk to you in the uh Bob Johnson room if you'll meet him over here.

Uh next up is Kathy Milston.

And then after that, Anthony Brent.

Hi, my name is Kathy Melstein.

My address is on file.

I would also like to ask for approval for to be added to the three o'clock liquor hour.

We have a lot of small businesses and a lot of hotels that are gearing towards the entertainment and and kind of nightlife district.

And by making it a 3 a.m.

closing time for alcohol, you're making it more appealing for people that are staying there.

They can go back and have that last night cap at their hotel and and possibly do some you know foot traffic and stuff like that.

Um, Brooklyn has been built up a lot for a long time.

It was kind of you know dilapidated, and they put a lot of money in it, kind of into gentrification, and being peripheral to downtown helped get them away from some of the parking issues that they had, and would allow you know more of a spread out um big developments, big hotels, and things like that.

And it it has worked very well.

Down Brooklyn looks very good.

It's the crime is lower, it's clean, and we just want to keep it that way so that we keep it appealing to the people that are either gonna come and stay here to Jacksonville, um, and or possibly even relocate here.

Um, it's a great area and a lot of mixed businesses that I think would really benefit from a three o'clock um drinking hour.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next up, Anthony Brown.

I do not see Mr.

Brown out there, so I'll go to the next one.

Jamie Travis Leonard.

And then after Miss Leonard, our next will be come on down, please, Katrina Walker, Kim Pryor, Derek Bermudez Hendrix, and John Nooney.

Please come on down if I called your name there.

Good evening, City Council members.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

My address is on file.

Oh, good, some seats filled up.

Love to see that.

I have to give this council credit.

You have done something that I wasn't sure could be done.

You have united all sides of the political spectrum on affordable housing.

Uh I know you all see the regulars that come up like me.

I see them too.

And I've seen some and I've thought, wow, I I don't know if I could ever agree on anything with them.

And you have gotten me to agree with people.

Bravo, great job.

Uh, and of course, this is because you guys keep passing such unpopular development that we keep coming up here to let you know that.

And somehow you still keep pop, you still keep passing unpopular development.

Absolutely fascinating.

I tell you what.

Um, so as I said, you have allowed real estate to be profit over community.

That's why most of us come up here and uh get on to you about it.

See, I come up because I care about people in my community.

I care about my neighbors being able to afford their house, be able to easily traverse to get their medications for children to have access to quality, nutritious food, and for my neighbors to be able to just afford their basic household needs, but you will magically keep developing uh residential and commercial properties in areas that don't offer basic needs.

You know, we have a bunch of food deserts, and you're all like, you know what?

Another housing development would be perfect right here.

Magical.

You hear the crowd, we're all in agreement.

This is literally the one thing we all agree on, and somehow you all still aren't addressing it.

You are continuing to pass stuff, whether it's here in LUZ that has massive opposition by the communities, not just the people in the area you're trying to focus on, but also in the broader Jacksonville city, and you still somehow keep pushing it through.

It's gosh, you know, elections are coming up, it's gonna be real interesting.

But as a reminder, corporations are not people, private equity firms are not people, LLCs are not people.

Stop prioritizing them over us, or you won't be in those seats.

Thank you.

Thank you, Katrina Walker.

Is Katrina here?

Oh, go ahead, ma'am.

Katrina Walker, my address is on file.

I'm coming to you with an urgent uh community safety concern.

Teen assault and battery at a local park.

On April 12th, around 6 30 and 7, my 15-year-old son and two of his friends was violently assaulted by a group of individuals at a local park.

Melvin Park is located at 4544 J Drive West, Jacksonville, Florida, 3210, and day straight nine.

My son suffered from a head injury due to trauma.

He's transitioned to homeschooling because of trauma, and he's being mocked at school because these videos were posted on Instagram over and over and over again.

As a parent, there's nothing more heartbreaking than knowing that your child was hurt in a place that was supposed to be safe.

As a community member, I cannot stay silent knowing that this could happen to another child tomorrow.

I'm not only here for my son, but I'm here for a community.

I'm not only here to show my pain, but I'm also here to call for action.

We need immediate action and intentional changes to ensure our parks are safe.

I'm asking this council to consider the following.

Increase police present during after school and evening hours when our youth are most vulnerable.

Secondly, the installation of security cameras, which was not found at the local park, and lighting in our parks as well.

Visibility alone can deter violence and help build and hold individuals accountable for circumstances like this.

Third, the creation of structured youth program, after school activities, mentor our two opportunities, and safe spaces that gives our children positive outlets and guidance.

Fourth, stronger community engagement, including regular safety meetings and partnerships with local local organizations to actively support and mentor our younger people.

This is not only again about my son, but it's about every child in our city who deserves to feel safe when they step outside their homes.

We cannot wait until the next incident.

Thank you, ma'am.

Your district councilperson, Ms.

Clark Burning, and our chief of special events.

I think that's your title, Ellis Burns is gonna talk to you in the green room.

Thank you.

Next up, Kim Pryor, and then we'll have Derek Bermudez Hendrix and John Nooney.

Good evening.

My name is Kim Pryor, and my address is 245 West 5th Street.

Not many of the council members still on the dice.

Public comment.

That's kind of disappointing.

But I'm here to talk about the CBA and the appointments to the board.

I initially submitted a public rights records request on March 26th that stated please provide copies of all applications received for the Eastside Grants Committee Board and all information submitted in conjunction with the application, including but not limited to resumes.

The only response that I received were copies of 14 resumes.

That sounds pretty good on its face.

There was no other information provided.

And two of the people who have been now been appointed to that board, those resumes weren't provided at all.

I submitted another public records request, stating the previous one, indicated that I didn't get all the information that I requested, and added to it.

Per city procedure, in order to be appointed to a board, each applicant must also fill out an application and be subjected to an ethics review.

Please provide a copy of each person's application and the results of their ethics review and any other records associated with this process.

Which were the 14 resumes.

Submitted her resume, which I have a copy of.

She also filled out an application, which I don't have a copy of.

So how many people filled out an application?

How many of the people that were submitted their application?

How many were were put through an ethics review as per the requirement?

And if they were, where's the results of that ethics review?

Did the members of this body ask those questions?

Did you review their applications?

Did you review their ethics review?

Or did you just rubber stamp it?

And again, not listen to what members of my organization are trying to tell you.

We have policies and procedures in place for a reason.

And when we don't follow them, things go wrong.

I don't understand why no applications were submitted.

The way to get your name in the in the pot to be chosen is to submit an application.

I don't have any.

Thank you.

Next up, Derek Vermudez Hendrix.

And then after that, John Nini.

Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Derek Tatine Bermudez Hendrix, the keeper of the flame and the tip of the spear for the Endungo tribe.

I know I came down here last year, and uh Councilman Mr.

Merrill was my first recipient.

He's a high school uh member with my mother, and he knows my unmatched St.

Croix Cruisian history that cannot be competed against.

So I'm also a descendant of Queen and Zinga, and I was on the first slave ship that came and landed in St.

Croix, Virgin Islands from the Indungo tribe.

So, you know, no one could stop me far as teaching my unmatched history, and I'm just really appalled that I was attacked.

Um, my son was attacked, and my life was threatened for putting on and trying to put on a community events to basically honor everybody.

A lot of people in here know exactly who I am and how what I care about helping kids in this community.

So I find it deeply appalling and unacceptable.

I know my first council member uh first council meeting was when Tony Baseli and JB Coxwell came down here and I came down here to stood with those uh men and they was being shut out by some black preachers and pastors and black leaders because they didn't want Tony Bassetti to take over part to help kids, so I found that unacceptable.

And at that time, I met a lot of great people out here.

I met councilman Hyde, um uh councilman uh Davis, and I ended up meeting his dad at the courthouse when he let me go meet with Chief Judge Donald Moran, who always offered me help.

And if there's anything that I need, and I would like for him to help me now because this pastor Harry Williams, who's also friends with bigger rankings, who I used to be friends with all of these boys and run in the streets with, and I have since distanced myself from them people because them people is trying to kill me, and they also flip my kids upside down against me.

So I was arrested at the park at Cuckoo Park a couple years back, and I had Eddie Diamond Jr.

come to the park so he could witness what's going on because he speaks about the pastors and how corrupt they are.

So I came to a city park and I stood outside the fence.

And while I'm standing outside the fence, the pastor and my ex-wife called JSO and had police to come and arrest me falsely for 10 days.

I came down here and met with the parks and recreation, and the lady told me that there's nothing here as far as video evidence.

Everything here is hearsay.

I don't know why they're doing this to you, but nobody else came forward.

It's always the pastor, his wife, uh first lady.

I want to say her name, Carmen Williams Esquire, seasoned attorney, um, Gary Hannons, and I want to say her name is Angie Hannons.

They kidnapped my son from me, and I don't even want to speak what they did to him, but they stole all my money.

Um, they stole all my paperwork.

I wasn't able to file the taxes for us, and they want to shut keepers of the flame down and try to put out our flame, but they not gonna do it.

I received, like I said, death threats to my phone, and uh people come and saying from the east side they're killed me and shoot me up.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Last speaker card, John Nini.

All right.

Hello.

I am John Philanthropic, Jelly Roll, good boy, resiliency nooning, 8356, Baskum Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216.

Governor Ron DeSantis, Vice President Miller, Pardon Nooney, 2024 0107, 2024 0325, 2026 0004, 2026 0024.

All right, the first topic.

All right, this is a trophy.

How do I know this?

Because trophy is written on the trophy.

This is a garbage trophy.

This trophy was acquired during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic on parental home road in District 4.

Garbage Day.

Every day is garbage day in District 4.

Now, you know, Emily Liska, Jerry Spinks, Mac Carlucci, Alan Bliss, Jimmy Peluso, Kevin Carico.

I mean, this is truly Jacksonville history.

So I will be submitting this for all of you.

All right, I'm just down to a minute 36.

And here is the agenda from yesterday's Duval County Tourist Development Council, the strategic plan.

And there's three questions.

What gaps do you identify in Jacksonville's current tourism economy?

And you know what I shared?

Here's our downtown Jacksonville map 2025.

You open it up, and right here, you know, in the downtown zone.

The kayak launch at Chell, it's not on here.

Okay, next one.

What specific projects or initiatives do you believe could be funded using tourist development tax revenue?

Well, CIA.

Okay.

That's a culinary institute of America.

CIA Park on Pottsburg Creek, 2025 to 0019.

I'm down to 30 seconds.

What emerging tourism trends or opportunities should the TDC prioritize?

Well, you flip it around, and we got FWC to play on the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the state of Florida.

Well, you know what?

It's also fishing with Crady.

You know, open up our waterways, and tell the world to visit Jacksonville.

Thank you for listening.

I'm gonna read four cards of people who did not come down.

First time, Anthony Brown.

Anthony was here to follow up on the 2024 redlining resolution.

Debbie Pine is opposed to 2026 232.

Deborah Del Orr opposed to the property.

I believe this is 2230 St.

John's.

And then Denise Cook just wrote redlining land use and zoning.

I do not believe any of those four are here.

And that concludes our public comment.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Floor Leader.

Before we move on, I do want to recognize that Duball County School Board Member Tony Ricardo is in the house.

Thanks for coming down, sir.

Thank you for your service.

All right.

So with that, it's time for public hearings starting on page 20.

Council members should declare any ex parte communications.

And please get in the queue because we do want to declare our ex parte before we start the public hearing cards.

Anyone wishing to speak on the following bill should have completed a blue speaker card, and you will be allowed three minutes to speak.

You may say your address is on record, but you're encouraged to be specific with your locations.

That may impact the weight given to your comments.

Like public comment, a speaker may be invited to the green room for further discussion at a council member's discretion.

Mr.

Teal, please read the bills.

2026 208-2092-288.

2026-006-007 122 123 126 127 164 165 166 167 168 and 169.

Mr.

President, please open the public hearings.

Public hearings closed.

Highlighted it and circled it, but he opposes this ordinance.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

So shocker, I tentatively support this bill.

But I did get an answer from your uh legislative assistance earlier because you guys implemented a new uh situation with the Legistar where we can't access the additional attachments to the bills anymore through the links in the agenda.

My understanding is has to do with ADA compliance.

Not related to the bill.

I apologize.

That was just more of uh if there's a better way for us to get that besides contacting PIO email, I would appreciate that information being disseminated because I couldn't quite review everything I wanted to prior to coming.

Uh but I do tentatively support and uh thank everybody for their time.

Thank you.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Speaker card, John Nooney does wish to speak.

Hello, I am John J.

Nooney, Jacksonville City Council resolution 2023 0819.

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

All right.

Now this is uh some GFL address, Mr.

Nooney.

8356 Bascom Road.

Thank you.

And uh so anyway, you know, you know, I learned a lot on this one, but uh GFL.

Again, we all like acronyms, but this is green for Lannon Public Park on Pottsburg Creek.

You know, uh what we're gonna be seeing, you know.

Uh this is a modification, you know, it's gonna be for you know, um debris processing and recycling.

Now, one big key with our city council.

Remember you created the Office of Philanthropy Philanthropy.

So, you know, this GFL, you know, to me, this is like uh Joel Damon and waste management.

I mean, just you know, take the shirt off and swing it around.

You got Meridian and you got uh Republic and so anyway.

This is and the reason I'm speaking to it.

You know, it's it was in neighborhoods and TEU.

But there wasn't a public hearing in neighborhoods, and I you know I learned a lot about this.

But this is gonna be huge going forward for a quality of life and a sponsorship opportunity.

So GFL, green for Lannon, public park.

Thank you for listening.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearing is closed.

Move the bill.

I have motion and second on the bill.

Is no one in the queue, please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

Sure, let's just reopen it so everyone can register their vote.

17A 0 nays.

46, 2026, 258.

I have one speaker card.

John Noone does not wish to speak, but he supports this ordinance.

Public hands closed.

On 4748, 2026, 259-260.

I have no speaker cards.

Public hands closed.

One speaker card.

John Noone does not wish to speak, but he supports this, and I have no more speaker cards.

All right, we're on 48 or 49.

We are on 49.

All right.

I'm gonna give the vice president the chair.

And I move the emergency.

Did I close the please uh close the public?

This public hearings closed, and I recognize council President Kerrico.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Vice President.

I rise to declare a conflict as this is additional um organizations that will be helping to fund the opioid grant.

And because my employer of the boys and girls clubs of Northeast Florida has received opioid grants in the past to help prevent kids from doing drugs.

I will abstain from voting on this issue.

Thank you, sir.

I now recognize Councilwoman Pittman.

Same here.

I rise to um say that this may be uh a conflict for the Clara White mission.

My staff will probably apply for some of these funds, and I will make sure that the um correct form will be completed and submitted.

Thank you, ma'am.

That concludes the abstention.

We have a motion and a second on the emergency, no speakers in the queue.

We'll take this vote verbally.

All in favor of the emergency indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

All against saying no.

The emergency passes.

I moved the bill as an emergency.

We have a motion and a second on the bill.

Is an emergency, no speakers in the queue.

Let's open the ballot and report your vote.

15 yes, zero nays, two abstentions.

By interaction, you've approved 2026-0261.

Item 50, 2026, 263.

I have uh two speaker cards.

The first is John Nooney, the second is Jamie Travis Leonard.

Both wish to speak.

Mr.

Nini, you go ahead first since you're closest.

Hello.

I am John J.

Nooney, Jacksonville City Council Resolution 2023 0819.

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

And all right.

Now this is an ordinance we're reporting.

8356, Baskam Road.

And um okay, this is 25,000, you know, from the traffic calming.

And you know, uh, we're waving, you know, we're waving everything.

You know, basically it was 25,000, you know, for a party.

And you know, what I wanna if it's that important, and this again, this is traffic calming.

So in the consent agenda, you know, you had agenda items 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, which you know had to do with mobility stuff.

So we got new you know, uh you've got that pot of money, if you will.

So where I'm going with it, you know, at tourist development council.

This is where with the administration comes in.

And you know, correct me if I'm wrong.

I think you know, we were gonna give Carl Miller a hundred K.

So you know what?

Let's slash that to 75K.

Then, you know, if you're going to dole out this 25,000, at least then you are keeping in place all these other pockets of money.

So anyway, just ask that.

You know, I'm just down to a minute 23.

But uh then also at the same time, you know, let the free market work, man.

You know, uh if you know, this is um up there, you know, uh again with the waterways.

So uh I just I can go on and on with it.

Just look at that budget transfer option, and then to keep everything in place.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you.

Next up, Ms.

Leonard.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

My address is on file.

I am in opposition of 26263, uh, similar to what Mr.

Nini mentioned, but uh I don't my biggest opposition to this is the fund that this money is coming out of.

Um I don't think that's the correct fund.

I don't know what fund would be the correct fund.

I'm not necessarily opposed to um granting something for Oyster Fest.

Uh sounds like a good time to me.

I like oysters.

But uh again, I don't think it should be coming out of the traffic calming.

Um I'm also a little on the fence of whether we should even be giving them money.

Do we regularly provide money to festivals?

That I understanding are private organizations and should be in theory self-funded.

Uh if we do, I might, you know, that would ease my opposition a little, but like I said, I my biggest opposition to this is the uh account that you are trying to take the money from.

So thank you for that.

I'm no more speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

I move the emergency.

Got a motion second on the emergency.

All in favor of the emergency.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The emergency passes.

I move the rules amendment.

Motion and second on the rules amendment.

There's no one in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed to say nay.

The rules amendment passes.

I moved the bill as amended as an emergency.

Got a motion and a second on the bill as amended as an emergency.

Pass President Freeman, you're recognized.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

And I rise just to uh set the record straight.

Uh I did agree with uh many of the comments that were heard earlier when we first initially read this bill at 25,000 dollars coming out of traffic calming.

But if you go back and check the archives and you you watch in rules, you will learn as I learned that these dollars were actually from the council members' strategic um council funds.

Um and so I am at a better place now, knowing that we're not taking money away from infrastructure.

It's money that we've all had as council, well, the district council members had to do at their discretion.

But I did want to add one caveat, Mr.

President.

Um, during the YEC, this council member put out on Facebook that we have five million dollars and everybody show up and get it.

One thing that I did learn is that he still has 200 plus thousand dollars in a strategic council fund.

So a lot of those nonprofits that came to our meeting that day that are more than likely not going to be awarded monies because of the process of doing it, please reach out to him and put that on Facebook as well.

Thank you so much.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Past President.

We have the bill and proper posture to take a vote, so let's open the ballot and record the vote.

17 yays, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0263.

I'm 51, 2026, 264, no speaker cards.

Public hands closed.

I'm 52, 2026, 265.

I have two speaker cards.

Jamie Travis Leonard does not wish to speak but supports it.

John Nooney also does not wish to speak but supports it.

No other speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 53 and 54 and 55 and 56.

Items 2026, 267, 268, 286, and 287.

I have no speaker card.

That's how we catch them up.

All these public hearings are closed.

All right, 57, 2026, 288.

I have one speaker card.

John Nooney does not wish to speak, but he opposes.

Public hearings closed.

Uh Mr.

President, we have received a significant amount of uh LUZ speaker cards for the next two items, so we're still tallying them up.

If you could give us just a second over here, all right.

Um maybe Dr.

Johnson could give us a poem.

I would like to speak though.

Thank you, Mr.

Recognize.

President.

Uh I just want to say um to uh thank you for all of the community members to the president to the members of the community that came and advocated for this, and also thank you to the developer uh for having so many community meetings.

I do want to underscore that while I certainly don't want anybody's voice to be limited, um, that we want to make sure that just in the essence of time, we've debated this back and forth.

I know I know what I voted in committee.

Uh I'm certainly looking to see if there's any additional information that comes out tonight on either side.

But I hope that in the essence of time that we know that we've worked this as much as possible.

And so I just wanted to thank everybody who has been involved in the process, but I hope we can limit it so that we won't keep us here all night.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

You're welcome, sir.

Also, want to mention this is a public hearing, not public comment.

So we do have to maintain a quorum.

What is our quorum number we must maintain?

Mr.

President, you should always have 14 members seated for a quorum.

All right, just a reminder to the body.

Okay, well that Mr.

President, uh I would ask those in the crowd if you're here for 2026 uh 006 or 007 and you do wish to speak, go ahead and come on down to the front.

Go ahead and come on down to the front.

So when we call your name, you can get up here quicker.

Uh I'm gonna start calling out names, and this is speaking on 2026 006, uh, which is uh believe the land use uh component of it.

Uh the first ones are Lawrence Cheney, Shelley Cheney, Tanya Wells, David McClure, and Samantha Sears.

And you don't have to go in order, just if I call your name, whoever gets to the podium first, uh just give your name and address, and uh you have three minutes.

Lawrencey, uh address is on file.

I just want to start off by apologizing for last week when I spoke out of character because of my feelings and emotions.

So I want to apologize to all the LUZ committee that was here last week.

I sincerely do apologize.

Good evening, Council members.

I stand before you in opposition to ordinance 2026 006.

Duval can Duval County created the future land use element and the Southwest Jacksonville Vision Plan for a reason.

They are the blueprint for responsible growth, ensuring development matches infrastructure, protects our rural character, and prevents overcrowding and sprawl.

These are not suggestions, they are part of the Jacksonville's adopted 2030 comprehensive plan and guide every land use decision.

And in this case, the planning department following these those policies has recommended denial.

If we ignore these plans, we undermine the very protection put in place for our community.

And tonight I ask that we recognize something important.

If you are here in opposition to this ordinance, please stand.

I apologize that'll be the last time.

Thank you.

This is not just one voice, this is our community.

Please support the planning department's recommendation recommendation and vote no.

Thank you, sir.

Next up, Shelley Cheney.

Hello, Shelley Cheney.

Uh address is on file.

Good evening, council members.

I do oppose the 006.

This is a legislative land use change from low density residential to medium density residential.

And it's critical that this decision be grounded in professional planning expertise and adopted policy, not speculation.

The Jacksonville Planning Department, whose staff includes trained urban planning planners and specialists with degrees in planning, public administration and related fields, along with their years of professional experience and technical technical certificates, has recommended denial of this application.

These are not arbitrary opinions, these are evidence-based conclusions made by qualified experts whose job is to ensure responsible growth and protect our communities.

Their findings are clear.

It introduces an abrupt increase in density in the middle of an established low density neighborhood, disrupting the existing development pattern and character.

It violates FLUE policy 3.12 as this is a classic case of spot land use with no transition or buffering between uses.12 and 3.1.13, as it places higher density development on local unclassified roads and introduces multifamily housing into a single family area without appropriate infrastructure.

It is also inconsistent with this Southwest Vision Plan 2023 and broader planning policies meant to guide thoughtful compatible growth.

Please vote no on 006.

Thank you, Dr.

Johnson and his um assistant, Mr.

Powers, for their time and their patience with us.

Thank you.

Next up will be Tanya Wells and then David McClure.

Hi, my name is Tanya Wells, 5694 Morse Avenue.

Under the LDR zoning, the site generates approximately 436 daily trips.

Under the MDR, that nearly doubles to 900 daily trips, an increase of 464 additional trips per day on the road that are not designed for this traffic.

Even in the transportation planning division has stated further traffic analysis may be required, reinforcing that the impacts are not fully mitigated or understood.

Why not fix this before we build?

Yes, the proposal would increase the number of housing units, but it would do so at the expense of existing neighborhood character, safety, and infrastructure capacity.

Growth is in growth should be intentional, compatible, and consistent with adopted plans, not forced into areas where it does not belong.

It should be based on competent and substantial evidence, as should be your vote.

We respectfully ask that you support the expertise and recommendations of the planning department and vote no.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

McClure.

And then after Mr.

McClure, Samantha Sears, and then Jeffrey Scott.

Are you yielding your time, sir?

Okay.

David McClure, 5750 Morris Avenue, right across from this thing.

Legislative land use change from LDR to MDR.

It is critical this decision be grounded on professional planning expertise and adopted policy, not speculation.

All we've heard from the other side is speculation and what it's going to be and what it is.

The Jacksonville Planning Department recommended denial of this application on fact-based conclusions.

That's what they do.

That's their job.

They're professionals, not speculators.

Not speculation is not going to change the inconsistency with the flu goals.

I'm not going to redo that.

It violates flu policies.

And with the no buffering and transition between uses.

Higher density on our local unclassified roads introduces multifamily housings and single family with appropriate infrastructures.

In consistent with Southwest Vision Plan 2023, meant to provide thoughtful and compatible growth.

Growth should be intentional, compatible, and consistent with adopted plans.

That's what our planning commission does.

Not forced where we don't want it or doesn't belong.

Please listen to our planning department.

They're looking out for all of us, all of Jacksonville.

Please vote no.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Samantha Sears.

And then Jeffrey Scott and then Paula Moore.

Samantha Sears address on file.

I'm here to oppose the adopting of a small scale amendment to the Flume series of the 2545 comp plan to change 9.7 acres from LDR to MDR.

After reviewing the proposed change, the planning department recommended the request to be denied.

The planning department provided the following evidence as reasons why this request should be denied.

The following comes from the planning department's report, which should be considered competent substantial evidence.

As mentioned in the MDR description in the report, the plan amendment requests for new MDR designation.

MDR designations are preferred in locations which are supplied with full urban services and in locations which serve as a transition between commercial and residential land uses.

For these reasons, the proposed amendment is inconsistent with the FLUE goal three and objective 3.1.

Under policy 3.1.12, the city shall, through land development regulations and land use category descriptions, require higher density residential development and supporting commercial uses to locate on or near arterial or collector roads used for mass transit routes and in proximity to major employment areas in order to ensure the efficient use of land, public facilities and services, and transportation corridors.

The site is within the boundaries of the Southwest Jacksonville Vision Plan.

The plan emphasizes the importance of strengthening existing neighborhoods.

The subject site is located near a boundary of the traditional building area and suburban area defined in the vision plan.

As the proposed land use amendment would significantly increase the maximum allowable density and is located within an established single-family neighborhood.

It would be incompatible with the character of the existing neighborhood and inconsistent with the vision plan and flu policy 4.1.7.

Again, according to the planning department report, this request is incompatible with the character of the existing neighborhood and inconsistent with the vision plan FLU policy 4.1.7.

As the proposed land use amendment would significantly increase the maximum allowed density.

Medium density residential is a category intended to provide compact medium to high density residential development and transitional uses between low density residential uses and higher density residential uses, commercial uses, and public and semi-public use areas.

Multifamily housing.

Thank you, Jeffrey Scott.

Good evening.

My name is Jeffrey Scott.

I live at 6711 Seaboard Avenue.

I strongly oppose these ordinances.

Building 89 homes on less than 10 acres is not normal for our area.

This area consists of larger lots, most of them wooded, a lot of farm animals.

This development would change the makeup of our neighborhood forever.

After several emails with the City of Jacksonville traffic engineer, they conducted a detailed traffic study on Seaboard Avenue and Morse Avenue.

They deemed the intersection worthy of a new four-way stop sign.

They also took measures to install speed bumps and additional four-way stop signs on Seaboard Avenue to slow the traffic down.

In my opinion, this greatly reduced the traffic, the speed, and the accidents at the intersection.

If this passes, this will greatly, or this will undo all of that.

A subdivision was just built at the east end of Morse Avenue, consisting of approximately 200 homes.

This city council recently approved zoning for 22 acres, only 600 feet away from this subdivision.

There are bulldozers clearing land today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Paula Moore, and then after her, Tammy Brown.

Good evening.

My name is Paula Moore.

I live at 6750 Seaboard Avenue.

I live on the corner of Morrison Seaboard on 2.77 acres and as part of the subject property.

I am in poor health and I have difficulty maintaining my property and my deteriorating single-line mobile home.

Mr.

Atlee is offered a purchase my property for a considerable more than I could get if the property was not developed and has sold as is.

This is enabling me to find a good home that I can afford and maintain.

Please help me by supporting this project.

And as I'd like to add something else.

Good evening.

My name is Tammy Brown.

My address is exempt.

Um I am a realtor in Jacksonville and a proud retired uh law enforcement professional from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

I uh distributed these these handouts.

I am support in support of this project.

This area needs single family detached homes, which is what this development is offering.

If you see the map and the photos provided, notice uh parcels one, two, and three on the west side, and parcel four is on the east side.

Attractive new homes will be positive for this area and provide much needed housing for the NAS Jacks area and other workers from the area.

Please support this project.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, ma'am.

Miss Brown, Mr.

Teal's gonna take you this card.

We just need one more piece of information on it.

Okay.

Next up is Layla Aline, then Jerry Woodham, and then Shelley Chastam.

Good evening.

My name is Layla Aleem, and addresses on file.

I want to start with talking about why Duvall has the future land use element, the flu, and Southwest Jacksonville Vision Plan.

Jacksonville's comprehensive plan was adopted by the city in 1990 to comply with Chapter 163, part two of the Florida statutes in compliance with state regulations.

The ongoing management is planning and development department to handle the amendments and enforce Duval County, City of Jacksonville uses the future land use element, and the Southwest Southwest Jacksonville Vision Plan to manage growth, align infrastructure with development, and preserve rural character.

The flu ensures development matches infrastructure capacity while the vision plan protects the rural landscapes in the southwest area from suburban sprawl.

These documents are integrated into the City of Jacksonville's decision making process for rezoning and land use amendments.

The flu and the Southwest Jacks Vision Plan exists to manage rapid development, protect rural character, and guide land use decisions in Duval County.

They act as planning frameworks, ensuring development are consistent with Jacksonville's 2030 comprehensive plan, specifically prioritizing preservation of rural areas in the West and improving mobility and infrastructure across the city.

The key reasons for existence consists of preserving rural character.

Southwest Jack's vision plan focuses on keeping the rural character of western areas, providing a guide for land use that prevents excessive urban sprawl.

Controlling development, they provide consistent reviews for land use amendments, ensuring new developments align with city's overall 2030 comprehensive plan.

Regional planning.

These plans are part of a broader long-range transportation and land use strategy, often coordinated by North Florida TPO, aimed at improving mobility and managing growth within specific planning districts such as North, Northwest, and Southwest.

Ensuring sustainability, they encourage better land usage to discourage leapfrog development and promote cohesive community growth.

It is the business plan for our city and the JAX planning development recommendation to deny this, please.

Please support their recommendation and their intelligence and thorough consistent research.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen.

So whoever's in the green room, please report back.

Hey, now we have 14.

You can continue.

Sorry about that.

I was at the end, but I'll repeat it.

It's a business plan for our city that's already implemented, and it's the Jacksonville's planning development recommendation to deny this project.

Please respect their research, their intelligence, and their passions they've put into this, and please support the denial of this project.

I want to thank you, Dr.

Johnson, as well for your support for our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Miss Jerry Woodham.

And then after Miss Woodham, Kelly Chastam, Laurie Young.

And then I believe this is Ken Attley.

Okay.

Jerry Woodham address on file.

Um point of question.

Is this about the land use or the zoning?

I know they're always separate.

We're on the land use ma'am.

Okay, so I'm on the right one.

Okay.

I support this bill.

Good evening.

Most of you were parents, maybe grandparents.

You want to leave a legacy to them.

Kelly Chatham's parents did that.

As property owners, they became available over decades.

They added to their property.

This is the same property where she cared for her sick mother and father till their passing.

Her children have lived on this property.

She now lives elsewhere and wants to sell a property, is what her father wanted.

The developer has worked and changed by having talks with the neighbors.

We know people have a right to sell their property.

There's been vandals, squatters, and homeless people.

The developer wants to build homes and even drop them from 89 to 70 homes and a playground, which will allow young homeowners a chance to get a home.

She could have sold it to someone who wanted apartments or businesses.

Recently, there were people spreading misinformation.

So I ask you to see that they have had countless meetings, and tonight is the time to pass it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Kelly Cheston.

My name is Kelly Chatham.

My address is on file.

I own the property that is before you.

Please note the map I presented to you all just now.

My property is one third of a mile from Wales Landing East on Morse Avenue, consisting of 217 50 foot lots.

I'm a quarter mile from the new subdivision about to start on Seaboard Avenue on 40 foot lots.

Just over a half a mile to a large mobile home park to the north, less than half a mile to a townhome community on 118th Street.

Also to the north.

A half a mile south to an apartment complex, a third of a mile south, a condominium project, less than a half of a mile to 500 plus single family homes south on Seaboard.

My property is therefore surrounded by development.

As Jacksonville has grown over the past 50, 60 years, every part of the city has changed, as has this area.

Clearly, it is no longer made up of rural properties.

Over 40 years I've been on this property.

It does not feel like a slow and rural neighborhood anymore.

It changed a long time ago, and I know that it will continue to become more urban as the city grows.12, higher density residential development near arterial or collector roads.

Policy 1.1.1.

The city shall provide incentives such as high density or special design consideration to encourage a wide variety of housing types.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Laura Young.

And then Kim Attlee and Bobby O'Connor.

Flora Young address on file.

We've heard that we need housing over and over and over and over again.

I have some statistical information on that.

Duval County's own data shows that our population is not rapidly growing.

It's actually declining.

According to Jacksonville Gov, the population dropped from 1,055,159 in 2024 to 977,670 in 2026, a decrease of 77,489 residents.

Current projections estimate only about 7,000 new residents, which is modest as best annually.

That was a temporary shift, not a substable growth trend that justifies overdevelopment.

Additionally, the argument to increase housing is needed for military families.

Does not align with how military staffing actually works.

Having spent 15 years as a senior financial analyst with the Department of Defense, working with both NAS Jacksonville and Cecil Field, I can say clearly the number of personnel is not continuously increasing.

DOD operates under a fixed budget and staffing structure, a process known as forced management turnover.

New arrivals are replacing those who leave.

Housing data further supports this.

As of March through April 2026, there are 6,092 homes for sale in Duval County with a median price of about 288,000, along with over 1,750 rental properties available.

That is already a significant supply of housing on the market.

Looking even closer at our area, in the 32244 zip code has approximately 310 homes for sale with a median price of around 265,000.

In the 32210 zip code has approximately 440 homes for sale with a median price of around 230,000.

These numbers show that an inventory already exists, both for buyers and renters.

With the projected growth rate of 7,000 residents and the thousands of homes currently available, it becomes clear.

This proposal is not addressing housing shortage.

It's introducing density that does not align with the existing community.

Despite the planning department recommendation for Don Isle, I request that you follow that recommendation and deny the 006.

Thank you for your time this evening.

Thank you.

Next up.

Kim Atlee.

It may have been Ken Attley.

Ken Attley, 5851, Tim McQuanna Road, Jacksville, Florida.

I've been developing for 42 years, and change always evokes concern from neighbors.

Change is inevitable but not always bad.

The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce website states, and I quote, our pro business mindset, innovative spirit and enviable quality of life, make it an ideal region to relocate and expand and grow.

More businesses brings people and need for more housing.

We are then listed as a supernova city by the Urban Land Institute for its sustained population growth, economical diversity, employment, and on and on it goes.

So our city is promoting growth, promoting businesses come here, bringing people and bringing a need for housing.

It then goes on in our comp plan and policy 3.1.12 states.

Require higher density residential development and supporting commercial uses to locate on order corrected roads, which is exactly what we're doing.

It goes on to say in policy 1.1.1.

The city in its land development regulations shall continue to provide incentives such as higher densities, special design considerations to encourage the building of a wide variety of housing types, designs and price ranges to promote an equitable distribution of housing choices throughout the city.

You know, we've seen uh 16-foot town homes approved all over the city of Jacksonville.

Our project will have detached single family homes, not attached, that are 50% wider than your 18-foot, so it'd be 24 feet wide.

They'll have windows on four sides, not just the front and the back like a town home, which makes a more enviable and good place for the occupants of that home.

So I submit to you that we are doing exactly what the city and the comp plan is directing us as developers to do.

And I'd appreciate your vote.

Yes, thank you.

Bobby O'Connor, then Steve Wilson, then Scott Innis.

My name is Bobby O'Connor.

My address is on file.

Thank you to the council members who voted no in the LUS in the LUS committee.

In the service of time, I'm not going to be repeating what many other folks have said.

Please oppose.

And I ask you to look at your planning department.

Your planning department has recommended that this be denied over and over again.

They've listed all the reasons.

I'm sure you've read the report.

Other folks have spoken of that report.

You know, we don't need change in our city for the purpose of change.

We need change when it really does work.

And when the planning department, with their degrees and all their good experience, requests that you deny this, recommend that.

Thank you.

Steve Wilson.

My name is Steve Wilson, 6314 Seaboard Avenue.

I want to thank you for your time and attention.

I know it's late and I'll keep it short.

The only real facts I see here right now are that uh the planning department has uh recommended no.

And we we aren't uh here even uh to yay uh to say yes or no to a development here.

It's is it going to be low density or allowed to go to medium density?

That's a pretty simple fact.

There are now uh and people have listed them off uh a great many number of new developments within a very short area of this.

And if you look on, I know you won't have time to before voting tonight, but if you look on the on the property map, the the uh the new areas of 50 foot lots uh in in this community is is shocking.

That there uh so it's uh to insist that somehow uh the this this nine-acre development needs to go from low density to medium density.

It it really is just not reasonable that you'd have to do that.

There everybody else has developed in this area now uh quite significantly at the low density.

Thank you.

Thank you, Scott Innis.

And then Jamie Travis Leonard after that, then Elaine Wilson.

Hi, Scott Innis.

My address is on file.

I'm here to speak on behalf of the home builder home builder Meritage Homes.

Um I grew up 10 minutes from this site.

I'm also a licensed professional engineer, so I know the area and I know this industry.

This is absolutely an opportunity to provide a positive infill opportunity for for housing for people that live at places like NAS Jacks.

Um we're very proud of the homes that we build.

Uh Ken mentioned this provides a lot more value than something like a town home, two car garages, uh, private backyard.

Uh in addition to that, Ken has incorporated a lot of improvements to the to the original concept that af after taking feedback from the community.

So the the concept has been greatly improved.

We're proud of the work that we do in the homes that we build for Jacksonville, and um we're excited for this opportunity.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you, Jamie Travis Leonard.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

My address is on file, as you're all aware.

I live in District 6, so this isn't quite my district, but I am here to support the community members who uh oppose this bill.

Um I also oppose it, uh, predominantly based on the report from the Jacksonville Planning Department, which has a recommendation to deny the land use change from LDR to MDR.

Uh, some of the interesting things in this report, which I hope you all read, is that the site is surrounded on all sides by land designated as LDR.

I've heard a few people come up and mention, well, there's other developments nearby.

Sure.

So this site specifically has LDR all around it.

So why are we trying to make an exception to make it MDR?

Interesting.

Um, also in this is that it would uh the development standards for impact assessment says it would current go from the current five dwelling units per acre to 15 dwelling units per acre, which is a triple increase.

Like, wow, that's that's a lot, guys.

Uh, especially in an area that uh cyber residents have mentioned is high traffic and high accident prone.

So that's an interesting choice there.

Uh also some things is the population potential would go from the current 127 people to 340 with this proposal if approved.

Uh and again, we're talking about an area that is already prone to traffic issues, including a high volume of accidents based on what the community has said, and we want to just funnel more people in there.

I don't know if that's the choice we need to be making.

So, as I said, I oppose this.

I stand with community members who oppose this based on their lived experience in this community, many of them generationally in the area.

So I hope you will listen to them and vote this down.

Thank you.

Thank you, Elaine Wilson.

And then after Elaine, the last two are John Moyle and Hayden Phillips.

Good evening.

Elaine Wilson, 6314 Seaboard Avenue.

As resident of the neighborhood since 1974, I know I don't look it.

This area is called Ortiga Farms for a reason.

The city had set it up as uh land use and zoning LDR, residential rural.

It has a rural atmosphere, despite some of the comments.

Um having lived there for my lifetime.

I can say that I still have horses on this property.

So for things that we can agree on.

First off, NIMBY, not my backyard.

I you know you guys hear it every time.

Ooh, excuse me, every time you have a meeting.

This community is not saying, not in my backyard.

They're saying do it the way you told us you were gonna do it from the get-go.

Nobody is opposing the LDR.

Everybody is saying, just follow your rules.

This is what you told us when we bought our property when we invested in the neighborhood when we moved in.

Growth.

Both sides actually agree on that.

They agree on two things.

Traffic is awful.

There's tons of accidents on seaboard, especially at Morris.

Uh there's been death fatalities at there since I've grown up.

Uh, same at 118th Street in Seaboard, and that's not gonna go away either.

Um, and the other thing that everyone agrees on seems to be that the diversity in the neighborhood already exists.

We have townhomes, we have apartments, we have a mobile home park, we already have 500 homes slated that are gonna be 40 lots.

Everybody's following the processes and doing what needs to happen to make this area grow.

But we're just saying enough.

We've we've done our part.

There are other areas of town.

Develop a way if they're okay with it, let them speak for themselves.

But we're just asking you to follow the rules that you established by the protocol you set, residential, rural, low density.

You don't have a problem.

It's pushing the limits every time.

We agree on everything else.

I'll yield any time.

Thanks.

Thank you, John Moyle.

Um, John Moy with uh Wichamoy Engineers, 3738 Southside Boulevard.

Uh, during the first LUZ meeting, there was some confusion about the traffic.

It was brought up that Morse Avenue was at a robotic capacity, and so I came in to address that.

The uh city's annual traffic counts show their closest count stations on Moors or just west of landing, and they show that Morse Avenue is only at about 16% capacity.

Uh we had performed a traffic study for the Wells Landing subdivision a couple years ago, and did a study of this um area, included the traffic from the new development, and at that time it only showed Morse east of landing, was approximately 10% at capacity.

Um there are a couple new developments.

There's uh new development on seaboard north of this, it has 117 new units, and this development will have 77 units.

We um took that traffic and uh ran it into the model on um Morris Avenue, and it still only brings it up to about 20% capacity.

So there's plenty of capacity on Morse Avenue.

Thank you.

Uh Hayden Phillips is our last speaker.

Um thank you, Hayden Phillips 1301 River Place Boulevard.

We're proposing single family homes and an urbanizing neighborhood and the largest city in the country.

We we coordinated with the district councilman from the very beginning.

Um we held a community meeting up front, and not one person attended.

We did show up to the CPAC where it was approved, and we went to planning commission, of course, where we received unanimous approval for actually more lots than what you'll be voting on tonight.

Um, a few people showed in opposition, so we deferred so that we could meet with the community meeting the community.

We've had three total community meetings, um, and we've made every concession that we can, which I will list.

Um, but for that, I do I do want to make clear that the LUZ did vote to approve this after a very thorough debate and discussion.

Um so some of the compromises we've made, we decreased the unit count from 89 to 77.

We decreased the total density from 9.2 to 8 units per acre.

We increased the minimum lot width on 18% of the lots to 40 to 60 feet wide, um, and we increased buffer sizes and even included a large park in the corner.

Um, and we increased buffer sizes and even included a large park in the corner.

Um thing I'd like to point out is that the planning department has said on the record that they are not necessarily opposed to the use in the PUD.

Their main issue appears to be the potential density allowed and the new land use category of MDR.

So the existing land use category is LDR permit seven units per acre.

We're proposing MDR, which typically would allow 20 units per acre.

However, LUZ also approved a site-specific policy which caps the density at eight units per acre, which is just over the seven allowed today and LDR.

We've heard two main concerns from the community.

One is a sentiment that this is a rural area and development doesn't belong.

It is in the suburban development area.

It is 1,000 feet from the urban development area and CCG2 zoning.

It's 0.2 miles from landing boulevard and FTOT principal arterial roadway, well within the I-295 loop.

It has utilities and infrastructure available.

Um, and there are several high density developments as a close proximity in every direction.

The other is traffic.

At the first LUZ stop, as Mr.

Moy explained, there was some confusion caused around traffic, but I've presented evidence into the record that shows Morris Avenue west of Blanding is at 16% capacity east of landing.

It's less than 10% capacity.

So this is an infill site.

It is not a spot land use amendment or zoning according to the code definition.

It is basically the opposite of urban sprawl.

Plus, we need the housing.

Our own comp plan requires 100,000 units by by 2045.

Thank you.

Here for questions.

Mr.

President, no more speakers, but I did have a lot of I do not wish to speak cards.

I'll read into the record.

Blake Harper supports Christina Warren opposes.

Hunter chain, uh Hunter Cheney, I believe that is, opposes.

Janice Black opposes.

Darlene Rinfro opposes.

Barbara Black opposes.

Denise Scott opposes.

First name begins with our Quinos, opposes.

Anthony Brown opposes.

Blair Young opposes.

Luis Vasquez opposes.

John Nooney opposes.

Anthony Ricardo supports.

Denise Cook supports.

Kenzie Quinyos.

Uh opposes.

And Kyle Horton also opposes.

I have no more speaker cards.

OK.

I move the amendment.

Got a motion and second on the amendment.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

A motion and second on the bill as amended.

Councilmember Peluso.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, I haven't really heard too much about this other than tonight.

Do we have someone from planning that can kind of speak to this real quick?

Sorry, Ms.

Pearl.

I can't hear what my colleagues are saying.

I'm sorry.

Time is ticking.

Ms.

Pearl, I just want to ask.

So one of the questions I think was answered.

I just want to verify that it was accurate.

So this is in the suburban area, correct?

All right.

So it seems as though it is.

So does the do we still believe that the planning department would deny today with the amendment that was just offered?

Um yes, with the amendment, we continue to recommend denial.

To what purpose is the recommendation of denial?

It's now gone from seven to eight.

That doesn't seem like much of a giant increase to me.

It is still a change to the MDR land use category, which is a spot in that particular area surrounded by low density residential.

The other areas are allowed a maximum of seven units per acre.

The MDR will have is proposed to have that site-specific policy, but that policy could be removed in the future by council, of course, but it will have that MDR category assigned to it, which could spawn like developments in the surrounding area up to 20 units per acre, which we do not think is appropriate for this area.

I think I'm slightly confused.

This seems like in a proper transitional area.

You still kind of disagree with that.

Okay.

Um through the chair of the councilman.

So the MDR, it's it allows such a significant jump.

I understand that this area might be feeling some growth pressures.

However, a lot of the developments that are around that people have been referencing, those were still developed within the LDR land use category.

They were just a more compact zoning district.

Um this zoning district, if I recall, is RR acre.

I mean, it could be an RLD 60, RLD 50, RLD 40, all of those are still within the low density residential category.

And so at this time, we just feel like MDR is premature.

Understood.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, Councilmember Carlucci.

All right.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Just to clarify real quick, um, the amendment that was just passed, that is a site-specific policy.

So LDR is seven units per acre.

This needed 7.9.

MDR is 20.

There's no in-between, as we've all kind of exhausted that conversation.

So what this does is it basically says for this one specific site, it will give eight units per acre because you can't do 7.9, you have to round up.

So instead of it being 20 on MDR, it will be site-specific to this parcel and only be eight.

So in essence, it's sort of the band-aid we came up with to bridge the gap in between LDR and MDR for this specific site.

So for whatever that's worth.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Clark Murray.

Thank you.

I I I didn't expect Councilmember Carlucci to get up and explain why the MDR, because it did seem a little strange that you went from the low density to MDR.

But if the amendment remedies the fact that they won't be able to put apartments there at a later date, then I'm good with that.

Thank you.

All right, Dr.

Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I will speak to this.

Uh growth is not the question tonight.

Uh growth is a given.

We are growing.

This city is growing.

This community is growing.

And I know I've been working with this community and the developers, but it's important that we grow with intention, the intentionality of how growth is to happen.

And I certainly want to thank again the developer Meritage homes, engaging in good faith, and even offering the concessions that we heard tonight.

Those are some great concessions.

However, at the end of the day, there's still developments in that area that were held to a different standard.

Um I'm so glad that Chairman Carlucci brought it up about the uh uh that band-aid that we want to put on it.

But I want to that's kind of what I want to talk about.

We've got to stop putting band-aid bandages on the code.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the code is broken.

We need to make sure that we are doing the work to amend the code or change the code so that we don't have to put bandages on it every five minutes.

The discussion in front of us is a land use action, so of course it doesn't require the same type of competent substantial evidence.

And I certainly agree with what everyone says with the 2045 comp plan about the fact that we do need housing in this city.

But at the end of the day, all growth is not good growth.

And if we are saying this is how we're going to manage growth, and if we've told people this is how we're going to manage growth, and then we turn around and say, oh, but not right now, that then gives us pause and change.

Um, as the chairman can tell you, I've been working closely for at least the past month or couple of months with other members of our legal team, uh, as well as planning and other departments to come up with another land use category.

We have LDR, we have MDR, but there's a gap in between.

Again, the reason why the code is broken.

But I'm looking to come up with an LMDR, which is I know count uh councilman uh uh Arias has been working on that as well.

So I hope that I I wish that we could have have held on this for just a moment so that we could come up with an LMDR category.

We wouldn't be having this debate.

We wouldn't be in the moment.

But I think when we start waiving these rules and waving the codes over and over again, it gives us pause in doing the actual work to fix the code.

And so that's why I am not supporting this right now.

I do believe we need growth.

I do believe there's an opportunity here.

I do not believe this is the way to do it.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, Councilmember Gay, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh uh through the president, uh Councilmember Johnson.

Welcome to the to the to the fight.

So uh it's it's it's always a tough position when your community is pressing for one thing and uh we see uh a need for another for housing um uh through the president to council member Carlucci.

The so basically the LDR MD MDR is a point nine factor.

Is it that's where where we're at where uh this is land and department is denying it because of 0.9 because it's going to MDR because of that.

And uh just uh want to put it out there is is there a way to um we can bridge that point nine back to just seven and uh hear what the community is saying and have this move forward.

We've got it this y'all have got it this far.

I just I just really think that that could be some kind of a compromise to fully get this moving forward and and uh because it it's what I'm seeing and hearing is what the community is saying.

We're so close.

Uh please please consider that before this this moves any further.

Thank you.

Councilmember Pelusa, actually, Councilmember Aries for the first time.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right.

Um last week at LUZ, this was uh a tough one for me because obviously we're voting off of facts and there's a lot of emotions in this room when it comes to these kind of rezonings and land use changes.

Um yeah, Mr.

Uh Johnson talked about uh category that I was considering he's also considering called LMDR.

Um I think that's much needed in our in our city, and also for us to actually make these determinations uh because going from LDR seven maximum seven units going all the way to 20 is the issue here.

Uh Ms.

Aaron Abney, if you don't mind please coming up here, uh Mr.

President, if that's okay with you.

Um I want to know right now, realistically, you know, this was deferred maybe a month ago at L um LUZ because somebody spoke in your department regarding the traffic percentage.

We've heard a lot of different percentages today.

Um last time we heard about it being overcapacity at 100 percent.

Today we're hearing 10 percent and then 16 percent on the west side of the of the landing boulevard.

Pertaining to this property, where are we at with traffic count?

A percentage.

Um I'm sorry, our chief of transportation is out of town, so she's not here today to answer that question.

This is Helena Parola.

Um, but I do know that because those are local roads, they didn't have counts readily available, but based on past studies in the area, they brought that count on that side of landing boulevard of Morris Avenue to about 15 percent capacity.

Okay, uh so rent outs currently at 15 percent.

Right.

That L U Z that was mistaken.

Um, I think our chief was confused with the figures that they were looking at.

So that was strictly.

Okay.

So um if this were to pass tonight and it goes to um, let's call it eight units per acre, looking at 77 homes, what is that gonna bring the capacity to now?

Um that I don't know.

I know the applicant has provided some information on that, but when it comes to site plan review, that's when the traffic engineer will look at that and we'll look at whatever surrounding traffic there is, and we'll ask of the applicant to provide those studies so they can make a better assessment of um if anything is needed for the increase in density there.

So they will look at um if a turn lane is needed or if an additional stop late is needed, and if that's warranted by the new development.

And the reason why I asked is exactly for what you just said, you know, we heard about four-way stop signs and how they're not really effective as it is right now for that particular area.

Is there something that will be done?

And you just answered it.

You said yes.

If there's a needed for a turn lane or traffic light or whatever the case is, it will be added because the concern here today was really about safety.

That's all I care about.

I don't care about homes, I don't care about the builders or anybody else.

I care about the safety of the community.

And so as long as you guys are doing your due diligence, if this were to pass, that the community will be safe.

That's really what matters the most.

Um the last part is um, and I have a minute left actually.

Um, if it were to pass going to MDR, I also heard that it will um produce 900 daily trips compared to right now at LDR at 436.

Is that accurate?

Um to the through the chair to Councilman Arya.

So our uh transportation team did run what the daily trips would be on the original request of 89 single family homes, and that could produce about 809 daily trips.

So if being reduced from 89 to 77 would be less than that.

Okay, all right.

And so uh for clarification, the maximum on out of MDR category will be 195 units, 194 units, but right now they're bringing it to 77 units, is what you're uh stating, correct?

Original request was 89 single family homes, bringing it down to 77 single families.

If they were to sell the property, can somebody go ahead and flip it and say, Yeah, I'm gonna do 20 units?

No, right?

It's stuck at eight units per acre if we were to pass this to the correct.

If this was to pass the uh site specific policy would be on that parcel, and in order to remove that, they would have to go through another land use image.

Perfect.

Just want to make sure that we have a lot of protections in place for this.

Thank you.

All right, Councilmember Diamond for the first time.

Question has been called by Councilmember Diamond.

All in favor of calling the question, raise your hand.

Councilmember Pelusa, I recognize the question being called did not pass.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, can I have one of the home builders or somebody who's representing them come up?

I just kind of want to ask.

Mr.

President, if there are questions that are going to be asked of anyone that are not staffed, you will be required to open the public hearing again so that those people can be allowed to testify, but only during the pendency of a public hearing.

Yeah, I mean he wants to answer.

He wants to ask you want to ask a question to the applicant.

I did.

So after reopening public hearings, everything public hearings open.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh to the applicant.

Um what do we believe the average cost is going to be for these homes?

The the price?

Yes.

Uh right around 300,000.

Right around.

300 or so is what the projected home price is, yes.

That that does not thrill me, sir.

Um no, because I mean part of the argument is, and part of my argument is uh I I do not necessarily fear density at the end of the day.

Uh I I think that the city does need to grow.

It is growing, and so we do need to make sure we do have homes.

We do need to make sure those homes are affordable.

I understood that some people mentioned, hey, we could find homes right now on the market.

A lot of those are much older homes that are very trust me.

I did some home buying recently, and some of them are not in, some of them are in very odd condition.

So to have a new home does make sense to me.

But we need to make sure those are affordable.

Uh I I don't think that eight units per acre is is terrifying to me.

I just don't, and I apologize to those who who might be offended by that.

But I especially if we have that already built in with the amendment we just passed, that does make me feel better about it.

But I do not like that price, sir.

And I and I hope that you guys consider it reduce it greatly.

Thank you.

All right, public hearings closed.

We have no other speakers.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

No, but Freeman.

The public hearing was just open so the council member could ask a question.

So it's not open for everyone to just come talk again.

You have approved 2026-0006.

With that, we're on to item 59, 2026, 0007.

Uh we'll go ahead and uh declare ex parte.

I'll get the ball rolling.

I received 17 phone calls and emails all in opposition.

Also, yesterday I talked to T.R.

Haylein and Hayden Phillips with questions on this ordinance.

This has been filed with legislative services.

Councilman Amor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I rise to declare ex parte.

Receive a number of emails on this, mostly no.

Also had a brief conversation with the applicant uh earlier today.

Thank you.

Dr.

Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I rise to declare ex parte.

I have received uh 17 emails and 14 phone calls, all in opposition.

I also just recently had a meeting with the developers and the land use group in the corner.

Uh all those things will be declared shortly or put down with legislative services.

Thank you.

Councilmember Gay.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I've received uh three phone calls uh in support for this and uh many many emails in opposition, and it's been filed with legislative services.

Thank you.

Vice President Howland.

Thank you, sir.

I also rise to declare expert a communications.

I received 10 emails in opposition, and I also spoke yesterday by phone at 11 a.m.

with Mr.

Hayden Phillips, the applicant's agents, and we spoke about the traffic miscommunication as well as all of the concessions that have been made.

We'll make sure this is filed.

Thank you.

Councilmember Peluso.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I stand to declare ex parte against I received three emails in opposition from neighbors all supporting the Planning Department's recommendation for denial.

I also have ex parte in favor.

I received a phone call from TR handline and from Hayden Phillips, but I did not speak to either of them.

But I figured I would say that at the very least.

Councilmember Miller.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I rise to declare ex parte communications as well.

I received 14 emails and one voicemail message in opposition.

I also had a conversation with Mr.

Hayden Phillips about the various aspects of this bill, and this has been filed with legislative services.

Councilwoman Pittman.

Received a number of emails, which I will file the information as well.

Thank you.

Councilman Arias.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm also uh declaring additional exparty as I spoke to the applicant in the green room just this uh afternoon and also received many emails in opposition to this legislation.

Thank you.

Councilmember Boyland.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I too ever see uh Stan Duro to declare export too.

I received six emails in opposition, one voicemail, and a conversation with Mr.

Phillips yesterday afternoon.

Uh it's all been filed with legislative services.

Past President Salem.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I received a number of emails and one voicemail, and they've been filed with legislative services.

Thank you.

All right.

There's no one else.

Go ahead with the public hearing.

Mr.

President, uh same thing as uh the previous bill.

I'm gonna call five at a time.

Please come on down.

Lawrence Cheney, Shelley Cheney, Tanya Wells, David McClure, and Samantha Sears.

If you do not wish to speak when I call your name, just let me know.

So again, uh Lawrence Cheney, Shelley, Mr.

Cheney, do you wish to speak?

Yes.

Okay.

Tanya Wills will go first.

Okay.

Ms.

Wells.

Tanya Wells, 5694 Morse Avenue.

Man, I just don't understand.

I I I have something to read, but I don't understand how we can go off of data or suggested data when reports were done from from two years ago.

They were done two years ago, even farther back.

I have a report from the City of Jacksonville Traffic Engineering Division done on March 25th with the number of accidents.

I sent it to you guys.

Um we stated what the planning department expects traffic-wise.

We we don't even have the other subdivisions built.

We don't have that other traffic, but yet without all of this, you're gonna approve it.

And for me, as a citizen, that's hard to accept.

It's hard to accept.

So I'm not gonna go with off what I I read.

Thank you, Mr.

Johnson.

I appreciate it.

Really appreciate it.

You have no idea.

Thank you.

Lawrence Cheney and then Shelley Cheney and David McClure.

I'm Shelley Cheney.

My address is on uh file.

I'm gonna go slightly off my script here.

Um growth is natural and manageable.

Overgrowth is when it outpaces what your community can handle.

I I really wish that y'all would pay attention to that in the sense of um yes, all the other homes are already being built or in the process of being built.

It's changed our community significantly.

Um I oppose the 707 ordinance.

Um the surrounding roads like Morris and Seaboard Avenue are two-lane local roads.

Uh typical limits of these roads are 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles per day and standard capacity, around 10,000 vehicles per day is maximum.

300 approximately 300 3,200 vehicles per hour, both directions combined.

But real world conditions reduce this capacity, narrow, narrow lanes, frequent driveways, existing congestion, school traffic and local flow.

That's adding 5,000 new daily trips with three roads beyond functional capacity.

They're not right now, but when you add 507 homes to our neighborhood within a mile of each other, it's a lot.

Existing safety issues have already been addressed per email by Mr.

Durbin, who is a traffic study engineer at the city of Jacksonville.

The city of Jacksonville has already implemented traffic calming measures in the exact area due to safety concerns.

There was a wreck there Easter weekend.

A car was upside down or on its side in the ditch.

We're adding 5,000 more trips to this area.

Seaboard and Moores has an always stop.

Seaboard and uh 110th now has an always stop.

Seaboard in 118th has an all had already had an always stop.

Now it has speed bumps.

One road over from Morris, which is a Vela, where my husband grew up, they added speed bumps all the way down that road because people fly down the road.

These changes have been made because residents have reported speeding and safety risk.

The city recognizes this area, has set has traffic the excuse me.

The city recognizes this area already, has traffic problems.

Speed humps are specifically designed to reduce speed and to 15 to 20 miles per hour, showing that this is the residential safety focus area, not billed for increased density or travel load.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And uh we are gonna start going in order.

Uh, you do have to come up in the order.

I call you out.

I was a little leaning on that for the the past few uh, but Mr.

Cheney, if you could go ahead now, and then it'll be David McClure and Samantha series.

Morris Cheney addresses on file.

What y'all just did in this last uh land use change is opened up Pandora's box.

I don't think y'all understand the impact that y'all just y'all just created on communities all over Jacksonville, but I'm not gonna get into that.

Y'all gonna have to live with y'all's mistakes, and we're gonna have to live with y'all's mistakes.

But what this developer is uh proposing is uh 30-foot lots.

80% of his proposed site plan is 30-foot lots with three-foot side yards between the houses, so that's six feet.

They're gonna build a 24-foot house.

Let me tell you what that does.

You have fire safety risk with 30-foot lots.

This development proposes homes on 30-foot lots, which creates serious and well-documented fire hazards.

Limited space, increased risk.

Homes built too close together, do not allow adequate separation.

Fire safety experts recommend 30 feet of dense defensible space, which is impossible on these lots.

When homes are less than 10 feet apart, radiant heat alone can ignite neighboring structures.

Let that sink in.

Six feet apart, but radiant heat can set off in 10 even at 10 feet apart.

How fast fires spread in modern homes?

Modern construction makes the risk even more severe.

A home can be completely destroyed in as little as five to 15 minutes.

Flash over can occur in just three to five minutes.

When an entire room ignites at once, in modern open concept homes with synthetic materials, flashover can happen in under three minutes.

Structural collapse can occur in four to six minutes in newer homes and 15 to 20 minutes in older homes.

Once flash over occurs, the home is typically unsurvivable within minutes.

Why this matters for our neighborhood?

Fires will spread faster between tightly spaced homes, which we're all on RR acre, so let that sink in.

Our houses aren't near each other.

Embers can travel over a mile, easily ignite nearby structures in dense developments.

Shared vegetation, vegetation increases the likelihood of multi-home fires.

Emergency response reality.

Current fire rescue response times 5.34 minutes.

That means a fire can reach flash over before first responders even arrive.

In many cases, significant damage or total loss has already occurred.

Bottom line, with homes this close together, fires will spread faster.

Containment becomes more difficult.

Thank you, sir.

Next up, David McClure.

The proposal David McClure 5750 Morris Avenue.

The proposal combined with already approved development within this mile within a mile from this development.

We're going to be over 500 new homes within the next year or so.

All we're taking into account is there's just one development.

It seems like and then that's we have we don't even have like Tanya was saying, we don't even have a current traffic analysis.

Traffic analysis from the Wells Landing from three years ago.

And we've got over 500 new homes.

So that's a thousands or more people moving into the area.

We're talking, you know, years it is hard to it's hard to fathom because the numbers are so small, and we all know that live there that they're much higher than what the numbers so we're talking over 900 to a thousand new vehicles on our road every day.

Every day more than 5,000 a daily.

We've we figured more than 5,000 additional daily trips with all the congestion that's moving in.

It's already dangerous now.

So I guess somebody should just develop just to open up a business of uh we're record business to pick up all the cars that are gonna crash.

The development on the lots that do not meet basic fire principles.

He was talking about how small the lots are is ridiculous.

It'll go up like a torch.

Without a complete complete traffic study, the congestion is it just doesn't make any sense why we're even here voting on this.

Well at the time with the when the city is actively trying to slow traffic down and improve safety.

This project does just the exact opposite.

This is this is and it's dangerous for all of us that live in the neighborhood.

I respectfully urge you to deny the order double seven.

Thank you.

David McLean.

Thank you.

Samantha Sears and then Jeffrey Scott.

Samantha Seary's address on file.

I oppose this ordinance.

This PUD is requested to so the applicant is able to put 30-foot lots into an area that does not have 30-foot lots.

The current zoning is residential rural.

According to the staff from the PD report, they find the proposed PUD to not be appropriate at this location.

The proposed development constitutes a spot zoning and deviates from the established development pattern of the area.

According to the planning department report, this proposed rezoning to planned unit development is inconsistent with the 2045 comprehensive plan and does not further the following goals, objectives, and policies contained herein.

Inconsistent with the flu policy 3.1.12, as it would result in higher residential density on a site accessed and bound by local unclassified road.

Staff is supportive of increased density when sites are located along collector roadways or higher due to the cut due to the capability of supporting increasing traffic.

Many people have mentioned that other developments are being brought around this area.

All of the zoning that is currently being you know built is RLD 40 and RLD50.

This is a PUD because they want 30-foot lots.

We do not see RLD 30.

I've never seen that one here, and I've been to a few of these.2 miles from the landing boulevard.

So I understand, and this group of community members, they do not oppose development in all, like you know, they are fine with sticking with what was now changed to MDR, but they were fine with LDR and RLD 60.

They would have accepted RLD60, but the developer does not agree with that.

He wants RLD 30, and that is how they would get those 77 homes into this area.

It's 9.7 acres.

That's not a lot compared to these other bigger properties that were mentioned before.

The other properties that have lots of homes being built, 17 acres, almost 23 acres.

One's 43 acres.

So we're asking to be put this extra density in 9.7 acres.

I think we need to listen to the staff report and not do a PUD here.

And if you do approve the PUD to listen to the community and have the items that they were hoping would be implemented if this is approved.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Jeffrey Scott, and then Paula Moore.

Jeffrey Scott here.

Okay, how about Paula Moore?

No Paula Moore, Blake Harper.

Blake Harper does not wish to speak.

Tammy Brown.

Is Tammy still here?

Does not wish to speak.

Thank you, ma'am.

Layla Aline.

She's still here.

Okay.

Miss Woodham, I don't see her.

Oh, Miss Woodham.

Do you wish to speak?

Okay, sorry for not seeing you out there.

Kelly Chatham.

Do not wish to speak.

Laura Young.

Does not wish to speak.

Ken Attlee.

Ken Atley wishes to speak.

Ken Attley, 5851 Timekwana Road, and I would be happy to answer any questions if you have any.

Thank you.

Thanks, sir.

Bobby O'Connor.

And after Bobby, it'll be Steve Wilson.

My name is Bobby O'Connor.

My name is on file.

I mean my address is on file.

It's past my bedtime.

I do not understand this process.

I really don't.

The planning department has said that this request is inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan.

They listed them all specifically goal three and all these objectives.

It's inconsistent with the vision plan or the flu policy.

It's inconsistent with the strategic regional policy plan.

It would provide more housing, but not more affordable housing.

And it would also detract from the name the character of the neighborhood.

The part I don't understand about the process is it doesn't make any sense to me that you would open the public hearing again so a council member could ask the applicant a question, but then you don't ask the you don't ask the the neighborhood folks a question.

I don't understand that.

Don't we have an opportunity to refute what's being said, particularly when something is said that is not the truth as we know it?

So and this business about the code, please fix whatever needs to be fixed in the code so that this doesn't come up again.

How many other are in this agenda tonight or next week, or that you've continued that you're gonna put a band-aid on?

Stop putting band-aids.

I don't know what you have to do to change the code, but I bet you council member Johnson knows, and some of others you know, please change the code so this stops happening.

I heard someone say, and I hate to even say this, but uh someone I'm not gonna use their name, but someone said the planning commission never met a developer they didn't like.

I'm starting to believe that about most of you all.

I really am, and I appreciate council members gay, Johnson, Boylan, Freeman, Pittman, and Salem for voting no on this.

Thank you very much.

Um on the previous ordinance.

As you might guess, I haven't said it, but I do oppose this.

Thank you, ma'am.

Uh Steve Wilson.

And after uh Mr.

Wilson, Scott Innis, and then Jamie Travis Leonard.

Steve Wilson, uh still at 6314 C board.

Uh I just want to point out uh one thing here.

We did have some comments uh from council members uh right before the vote uh suggesting that this is about safety and that it would be a simple matter to put in a turning lane.

Um it's not gonna be a simple matter.

There's not even uh breakdown or or you know, pull over space, particularly at that intersection, but all up and down most of the roads in the area.

There's a ditch.

Um I I'm not you know, obviously you can move the dirt around, take property away from the development, take property away from the everybody adjoining the corner, but uh it's not gonna be that simple a matter.

Uh I do also want to uh without being personal, um it it I don't think was lost on any of us that uh quite a large majority of comments that uh council members mentioned as ex parte after the vote uh were all opposed.

Uh the and I don't have a firm count to to to validate that that but certainly how it seemed, and all of the conversations were had with the uh party here uh trying to apply for this.

So thank you.

It doesn't look Scott Innis and then Jamie Travis Leonard.

And then Elaine Wilson.

Um again I'm here on behalf of Meritage Holmes.

I'm confident of the benefit, and I'm I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Uh Jamie Travis Leonard, are you here?

Do you wish to speak?

Oh, she's not here.

Okay, thank you.

Uh for the record, she opposed it.

Elaine Wilson no pressure.

Good evening again.

My name is Elaine Wilson.

I reside at 6314 Seaboard Avenue.

Well, my horses do anyway.

I googled up how to combat this situation, and it said a successful defense combines documenting procedural uh flaws.

So we've talked about we don't have a current traffic study.

We relied on the planning committee's input.

Didn't really seem to matter.

Um showing alignment with community plans.

It doesn't fit the low density that we were told that property was zoned for or land use for the residential rural side.

We presented a united well-organized front.

Ta-da.

And we've sat here patiently waiting.

A PUD provides a deviation from standard regulations.

A PUD can waive and relax the rigid requirements of an underlying underlying MDR zoning district.

Several of you who voted yes on the last uh ordinance.

Um spoke strongly about oh, it's only one more.

It's just one more.

But under a PUD, that can quickly change when they realize they have to put in a turn lane, and now we've got to fill ditches, and that's not coming out of these neighbors' front yards, that's coming out of the front yards of these 30-foot home sites with two-car garages, which are 20 feet.

So you have a two-car garage door and a four-foot entry day door.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

So we've gone from looking at horses to looking at that.

So if you guys could reconsider on the PUDs so that we don't end up changing more than you guys already said, oh, we've got this covered, we've got this extra little clause, we're gonna be okay.

Our neighborhood is not gonna be okay.

You're not taking a holistic look at the neighborhood, the 500 houses that you've approved, one parcel here, one parcel there, one parcel there.

It's chewing the cookie one piece at a time, not realizing you're not eating a cookie, you're eating a whole pie.

So can you please take some consideration of the neighborhood and what these neighbors are saying?

It is not about not in my backyard.

We've asked.

Please hear us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Last speaker is Mr.

Hayden Phillips.

Uh, are you questions only, Mr.

Phillips, or do you wish to speak again?

Um I will stand by for any questions that you may have, and I would be glad to answer them in the event you do have questions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

President, I'm gonna read into the record all those that filled out a card, do not wish to speak.

I believe this is Kyrie Horton.

Opposes uh Christina Warren opposes, Hunter Cheney opposes, Janice Black opposes, Darlene Rinfre opposes, Barbara Black opposes, Denise Scott opposes.

Uh I believe I I cannot read the first name, last name is Quinos, I believe.

Uh opposes, Anthony Brown opposes, Blair Young opposes, Lewis Fasquez opposes, John Nooney opposes, Anthony Ricardo supports Denise Cook supports, and Kenzie Quinos opposes.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearing closed.

I move the amendment.

Got a motion second on the amendment.

There's no one in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay.

The amendment carries.

I move the bill as amended.

Have a motion second on the bill as amended.

11 yes, six nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0007.

Uh I'm 6061, 62, and 63.

2026, 122, 123, 126, and 127.

I have no speaker card.

These public hearings will be continued to 5126.

I'm 64, 2026, 164.

I have one speaker card.

Uh Josh Cockerel.

Is Mr.

Cockrill here?

He did not check, or he did check.

I do not wish to speak questions only.

So I have no more speaker cards.