Jacksonville City Council Meeting Summary: May 12, 2026
Jacksonville City Council Meeting Summary: May 12, 2026
The Jacksonville City Council met on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order by Council President Kevin Carrico and adjourned at 9:06 PM. The agenda included quasi-judicial ordinances, a consent agenda, public comments, public hearings, third-reading bills, and new business. Key actions included approval of a major economic development agreement with Winn-Dixie, several rezoning approvals, and the appointment of a new City Council Auditor.
Presentations
- Council Member Lahnen presented a framed resolution (2026-234-A) honoring the Providence School Stallions Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team for winning the 2026 FHSAA Class 2A State Championship. The team finished 29-3 with 17 consecutive victories. The resolution was adopted.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved by a vote of 18-0, with the exception of item 2026-277 (appointment of Phillip Peterson as City Council Auditor), which was pulled by Council Member Diamond. The consent agenda included:
- Confirmation of Kim Black and Martha Moore to various boards.
- Approval of the Isle of Palms Dependent Special District proposed FY 26-27 budget.
- Ordinances authorizing FDEP and FDOT agreements for environmental cleanup and NPDES requirements.
- Resolution declaring National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22, 2026).
- Resolution honoring ECS 4Kids on its 60th anniversary.
- Item 2026-277 was considered separately and approved 18-0 after a floor amendment. Several council members spoke in support of Peterson, citing the legacy of the Council Auditor’s office.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public comment period ran from approximately 6:38 PM to 7:30 PM. Speakers addressed multiple topics:
- Several speakers opposed the Winn-Dixie economic development agreement, arguing it was corporate welfare and that the city should not be forced to choose between a food desert and incentives. Some requested more time for community input.
- Speakers supported the Brentwood community, urging the council to ensure the store at 201 W 48th Street remains open. Council Member Pittman’s role in negotiating a three-year commitment was praised.
- Community members demanded that charges be dropped against three individuals arrested at the May 27, 2025 council meeting, citing excessive force and selective enforcement.
- Speakers called for a separate mental health crisis response team, citing seven JSO shootings of individuals in crisis in 2025.
- Other topics included the forensic lab/morgue odor in Brentwood, the need for a community garden ordinance (Free to Garden Act), and opposition to proposed zoning changes that would reduce public notice.
Discussion Items
- Winn-Dixie Economic Development Agreement (2026-0326): The council considered a resolution authorizing a 20-year Recapture Enhanced Value (REV) grant of up to $5,500,000 and a headquarters retention grant of up to $6,500,000 ($1,300,000 annually for 5 years) to support renovation and expansion of Winn-Dixie’s headquarters and renovation of 14 stores. The agreement required Winn-Dixie to retain 500 jobs and create 200 new jobs averaging $100,000 annually. Floor amendments were offered:
- Council Member Lane’s amendment: established a more aggressive job creation schedule, annual hiring goals, and a clawback provision if jobs are not maintained. Approved by voice vote.
- Council Member Pittman’s amendment: required Winn-Dixie to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the store at 201 W 48th Street open through the lease term (February 2029) or facilitate a replacement grocery store within a quarter-mile radius. If the store closes before the lease ends, the city must be repaid 100% of the retention grant disbursed. Additionally, Winn-Dixie must report to the council 18 months before the lease expiration. Approved 18-0.
- The bill as twice amended was approved 16-2 (Council Members Carrico and Diamond voting no). Council Member Diamond argued the protections were insufficient and called the incentives “corporate welfare.” Council Member Arias expressed concern about being handcuffed by the threat of a food desert but supported the deal for job creation.
- Third Reading Resolutions:
- Resolution 2026-0270 (denouncing the recognition of March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day) was approved 17-1 (Council Member Peluso voting no). Council Member Diamond stated the resolution was necessary because of new information about Chavez’s personal conduct. Council Member Peluso argued it set a bad precedent.
- Third Reading Ordinances:
- 2026-0258 (CRA advisory board membership) – Approved 18-0.
- 2026-0260 (Historic Stanton grant of $143,710) – Approved 16-2 (Council Members Carrico and Diamond voting no).
- 2026-0264 (Riverside-Avondale Preservation grant amendment) – Approved 17-1 (Council Member Diamond voting no).
- 2026-0265 (Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association grant of $675,000) – Approved 18-0.
- 2026-0267 (Renaming Fingerlake Street to Fairfield Way) – Approved 18-0.
- 2026-0268 (Contract with Selectionlink, Inc. for JEA employee survey) – Approved 13-5 (Council Members Boylan, Carlucci, Clark-Murray, Johnson, Peluso voting no). Passage required 2/3 vote.
- 2026-0288 (Opioid settlement proceeds grant amendments) – Approved 15-0-3 (Council Members Carrico, Pittman, Gaffney Jr. abstaining).
- Public Hearings: Numerous public hearings were held on rezoning, sign waivers, road frontage waivers, and special district budgets. Most were closed without opposition. Notable:
- Items 48-51 (land use amendments for Old Kings Rd and Pitts Rd) were continued to June 9, 2026.
- Items 52-53 (Commonwealth Ave rezoning) were approved 18-0 after a public hearing where community concerns about a septic tank were addressed. Council Member Clark-Murray asked the applicant to install an opaque fence.
- Bill 2026-0364 (administrative deviations) was deferred by Council Member Diamond for at least one month to allow for public input and a substitute bill.
- Unfinished Business: Item 2025-0872 (board appointments) was postponed to May 26, 2026, by a vote of 18-0, pending a written opinion from the Office of General Counsel.
- Addendum: An emergency resolution (2026-0417) honoring Captain Edward W. Froehlich was approved 18-0, with a floor amendment.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Winn-Dixie economic development agreement (16-2).
- Approved: Appointment of Phillip Peterson as City Council Auditor (18-0).
- Approved: Resolution denouncing Cesar Chavez Day (17-1).
- Approved: Historic Stanton grant ($143,710) (16-2).
- Approved: Riverside-Avondale Preservation grant amendment (17-1).
- Approved: Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association grant ($675,000) (18-0).
- Approved: Renaming Fingerlake Street to Fairfield Way (18-0).
- Approved: Contract with Selectionlink, Inc. for JEA employee survey (13-5).
- Approved: Opioid settlement proceeds grant amendments (15-0-3).
- Approved: Three quasi-judicial rezoning ordinances (all 18-0).
- Approved: Emergency resolution honoring Captain Edward W. Froehlich (18-0).
- Deferred: Bill 2026-0364 (administrative deviations) – deferred by sponsor for at least one month.
- Postponed: Item 2025-0872 (board appointments) to May 26, 2026.
- Continued: Several land use amendments to June 9, 2026.
- Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
To the city of Jacksonville's city council meeting. It's Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. Time is 5 p.m. And I call this meeting to order. Thank you, Mr. President. First order of business is the invocation and pledge of allegiance. Please recognize our council chaplain, Councilmember Kennemar. Mr. Chaplin, the floor is yours. Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. Floor Leader. Tonight, our invocation is being delivered by Pastor Waitsea Mask Senior. He is the senior past of Wayside Assembly of God in Dinsmore. He is ordained in the assemblies of God. He has been in ministry at Wayside since 1986. He's married with three children and has lived in Jacksonville for more than 55 years. Please receive pass the way for tonight's invocation. The stirres gives all the information. And she says, when the oxygen mass drops because of Cavas loss pressure, first put the oxygen mask on yourself. And so I want to encourage y'all because if you're flopping in the floor like a fish, you're no good to anybody. But if you'll put that spiritual oxygen mask on first, every day, keep it on continually when you're serving the citizens of Jacksonville and serving your own family. If you'll put your spiritual thing as the priority, and then help you be in line so you can hear from God and make the decisions that need to be made for the citizens here. So always put yours on first. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for these folks that spend day after day caring about others. Dear Lord, we thank you for this city. We thank you for the certainly this state and this country. We we thank you, dear Lord, for the freedoms that we have and the freedom to assemble. Outside right now, there's someone talking about something there is every meeting. But we have that freedom, and we have the freedom to pray like we are now. Dear God, let us never take that for granted. But God, I ask you to bless these folks that are entrusted with making decisions for the people of this city. God, I ask you to bless their homes and their families and their marriages, dear God. God, touch their bodies, dear Lord. And God, we ask you once again that you would help them to hear from you that they wouldn't hear from other sources, dear God, but what you put on their hearts, what you speak, and especially through your word, that that would be the decision maker. And we'll always give you the glory and you the praise that no flesh would ever glory in your presence in that sweet name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance. Roll call, Mr. President. All right, roll call. 18 present. All right, and I'm gonna turn it over to the vice president for a quick announcement. Thank you, Mr. President. I do have an announcement.
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