Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Meeting on Military Readiness Review and Legislative Actions - May 5, 2026
Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Meeting - May 5, 2026
The Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee of the Jacksonville City Council convened on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 9:30 AM in the Council Chamber, City Hall, and adjourned at 9:57 AM. Chair Will Lahnen presided. All seven committee members were present: Will Lahnen, Ju'Coby Pittman, Rahman Johnson (excused late arrival), Ken Amaro, Matt Carlucci, Reggie Gaffney, Jr., and Tyrona Clark-Murray (excused late arrival). The agenda included a presentation by the Northeast Florida Regional Council on military projects and action on three legislative items, with seven additional items on second reading.
Routine Approvals and Public Hearings
- 2026-0267 (Fingerlake Street renaming): A public hearing was opened and closed. The committee approved an amendment (removing a waiver of noticing requirements and correcting a scrivener's error) and then passed the ordinance as amended by a vote of 7-0. The ordinance renames Fingerlake Street to Fairfield Way in Council District 12 and anticipates extending the roadway to Normandy Boulevard through the site of the new Jacksonville Fairgrounds.
- 2026-0286 (FDEP petroleum contamination cleanup contract): The committee approved, by a vote of 7-0, a continuation contract for the City to manage petroleum contamination cleanup for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in Duval, Nassau, Baker, and St. Johns Counties. The contract runs through June 30, 2031, with an option to renew for up to five additional years.
- 2026-0287 (FDOT NPDES interlocal agreement): The committee approved, by a vote of 7-0, a continuation contract with the Florida Department of Transportation to support allocation and implementation of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements. The contract runs through May 31, 2031, with an option to renew for up to five additional years.
Public Comments & Testimony
- John Nooney, a Jacksonville resident (District 4), spoke on items 2026-0267, 2026-0286, 2026-0287, 2026-0327, and 2026-0358. He expressed support for the Fingerlake Street renaming, referencing Council Member White and the new fairgrounds. His comments on other items were broad, touching on waterways, vessel storage, and the Emerald Trail, but he did not articulate specific positions beyond general support.
Presentation on Military Installation Readiness Review
- Beth Payne, CEO of the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC), presented the Northeast Florida Military Installation Readiness Review (MIRR). The MIRR is an 18-month project (March to September 2026) funded by a Department of War grant of approximately $1 million from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, with a $113,000 match from NEFRC. It focuses on four regional installations: Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Naval Station Mayport, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The review assesses risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities outside the fence line that affect military missions, and aims to develop a prioritized project list for community-based mitigation. Ms. Payne noted that Northeast Florida is the last region in the state to complete a MIRR, a priority of the DeSantis Administration. She described the two-committee structure (Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee) and highlighted progress including installation tours, stakeholder meetings, a vulnerability assessment with a military-focused lens, identification of mutual support agreements, and ongoing work on a project priority list. She also noted additional threats and hazards such as housing affordability, childcare, light pollution, and land development that are policy issues for the City.
Discussion Items
- Council Member Pittman asked whether bridges, ships, and major equipment were included in the MIRR. Ms. Payne responded that transportation networks at Mayport and Blount Island have been examined, noting prior work by the TPO and University of Georgia, and that bridges are not a significant concern except during major storms. She added that the MIRR has looked at US 17 near NAS Jacksonville for traffic concerns, and that the Jacksonville Port Authority, on the Steering Committee, has discussed dredging and port operations. She noted that rail transportation is equally important for moving equipment.
- Council Member Johnson, whose district includes NAS Jacksonville, noted that the City has taken over maintenance of traffic lights on the base and asked whether future opportunities exist for similar arrangements to let the military focus on its mission. Ms. Payne confirmed that such arrangements are part of ongoing conversations.
- Chair Lahnen asked whether Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia was considered. Ms. Payne explained that Kings Bay was not included because its MIRR was already completed, and that Coast Guard operations (under DHS) could not be covered. She stated that the project team will review the Kings Bay MIRR for applicable findings. She added that after the Northeast Florida MIRR is completed, work is being done for Pinecastle Range (covering parts of Marion, Putnam, and Lake Counties), after which a statewide initiative will work with regional councils to advocate for state funding of high-priority projects.
Key Outcomes
- The committee unanimously approved ordinances 2026-0267 (as amended), 2026-0286, and 2026-0287, all by a vote of 7-0.
- The committee read and rereferred seven items for future public hearings and action: 2026-0317 (honorary street designation for Pastor Ernie L. Murray, Sr.), 2026-0325 (easement abandonment), 2026-0327 (Emerald Trail Hogan's Creek to Riverwalk – appropriation of $12,599,258 and eminent domain authority), 2026-0328 (alley abandonment), 2026-0329 (road right-of-way abandonment), 2026-0330 (drainage easement abandonment), and 2026-0358 (towing and storage regulations).
- The next regular meeting of the Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. We'll go ahead and get started with the May 5th meeting of the Transportation Energy and Utilities Committee. Let's start off with introductions, starting with uh Mr. Delaney. Morning, Bill Delaney with the Mayor's Office. Stephen Libby, Council Research. Carla Schell, Office of General Counsel. Edward Lindsky, Council Auditor's Office. Canamar, City Council, District 1. Reggie Gaffney, Julia, City Council District 8. Jacobi Pittman, District 10. Will Lane and District 3. Matt Carlucci at large group 4. All right. Good morning, everyone. We only have three action items today. So what we're gonna do is uh we also have a presentation by the Northeast Florida Regional Council. I'm gonna have public comment first. We're gonna do the uh three action items so our uh city staff can uh can get out of here ahead of that presentation, or they're welcome to watch it as well. And then after those action items, we will uh do the presentation, which uh they're gonna have 10 minutes to present and then five minutes for uh any questions, but we can be fairly lenient on that too as well since we don't have a loaded agenda. Uh so going through the agenda item one 2026 267, we'll have a public hearing open and closed, move an amendment and take final action on that. Item two, 2026-286 will take action on as well as 2026-287. I don't expect a lot of conversation on any of those three items. So if you'll notice they've already been through other committees and all have been unanimous votes up to this point. As far as second reads, item four, 2026-317, item five, three two five, item six, three two seven, item seven, three two eight, items eight, nine, and ten, which are 329, 330, and 358 are also on second read. So with that, uh do I have any public comment cards? Okay, Mr. John Nooney, come on down. We'll have two minutes and speak to an item on the agenda. All right, two, not three minutes. Okay. All right. I am here. Okay, RD, the real doge, Ron Davis, 600 W B O B. I am John Philanthropic Jelly Roll, good boy, resiliency nooney, 8356, Baskum Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216, District 4, Carico, CPAC 3, Rosemary Wiselowski, School Board, Charter School, Public School, Field Trip, 2025, 0867, Wendy Con, CIP, OED Park on Pottsburg Creek, uh, State of Florida, that's a news story. All right, uh, agenda items number one, public hearing, 2026, 0267. Number two, you know, it's not in waterways, Office of Administrative Services. Number three, not in waterways, Office of Administrative Services. Number 10. All right, now this storage of vessels, neighborhoods, rules, TEU, but not in waterways. Now this is massive. And then number 10, follow the Emerald Trail. Hogan's Creek, you know, it's 2026, 0327. You know, I've got my uh KEH, JWJ, you know, uh Groundwork Jacks. Anyone remember uh Don Emmerich? Um but yesterday, you know, I'm only down to 40 seconds. You know, yesterday went to the Urban Core CPAC meeting, and you know, on my way over to the library, I fell. And you know, at 1030, you know, you got the mayor's disability council. So anyway, you know, DIA. You know, downtown includes accidents.
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