OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee Meeting - May 18, 2026

City Council — Monday, May 18, 2026
BodyJacksonville, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, May 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:30:23
Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

All right.

0:04

Welcome everyone to the Monday, May 18th, 2 p.m.

0:08

Rules Committee meeting.

0:09

If we would start with introductions with Mr.

0:13

Dennis, please.

0:14

Garrett Dennis administration.

0:16

Colleen Hamsey, Council Research.

0:18

Mary Stefopoulos, Office of General Counsel.

0:21

Trista Carriher, Council Auditor's Office.

0:24

Canamar, City Council District 1.

0:26

Randy White, District 12.

0:28

Chris Miller at large group five.

0:31

Group two at large.

0:34

My gay district two.

0:37

Good afternoon, Michael Boylan, District Six.

0:42

Alright, thank you, everyone.

0:45

Do we have any public comment cards?

0:50

Thank you.

0:50

We have three.

0:54

Okay, in order, and you have three minutes.

0:58

If we could start with Bobby O'Connor and then Latavia Harris and then Marshall Atkinson, please.

1:11

My name is Bobby O'Connor.

1:12

My address is on file.

1:14

Some of you have already heard me what I have to say, but I because I spoke this morning, but I wanted to add to it.

1:22

I don't really understand how some of you good people could say that you understand what happened and is happening in redlining.

1:34

And then you voted no to for Jimmy Palouse, Councilmember Peluso's resolution.

1:42

That is not in alignment, in my view.

1:46

If you truly understood what redlining did to this community and is still doing to this community, then you would have voted yes to that resolution for in my thinking.

2:00

It's really a no-brainer.

2:01

It costs no money, and I know you all want to be fiscally responsible.

2:06

How could you not vote yes?

2:09

You would be standing in solidarity with a large 20 plus percent of the population that you serve, the citizens that you serve.

2:19

I do not understand, and I believe you don't really understand redlining and the scars that is left and that are still here today in our community in those in those areas which were redlined, and it is still happening.

2:38

What was it, two years, maybe three, that Amerisbank didn't acknowledge that our account for that they'd done anything wrong, but they settled.

2:50

You could have made what I would call an acupuncture treatment.

2:55

You would have changed the energy field in our city.

2:58

If you could vote yes, and those of you who were not at the meeting this morning, please vote yes to Jimmy Peluso's resolution about not having a jail in a red line community.

3:11

Don't add to what is already done in the name of all that is good and holy.

3:17

Do not add to that.

3:19

Thank you.

3:22

Thank you.

3:23

Next is Latavia Harris, please.

3:30

Good morning.

3:31

My name is Latavia Harris.

3:33

My address is on Powell.

3:36

Um I have two things this morning.

3:38

I'm here for the confirmation for Miss Alice Nelson.

3:43

When we talk about east side generation, Alice Nelson fits that marker to the team.

3:49

Her home was one of the first homes that Reverend C.B.

3:52

Daly built.

3:53

Her mom left her that home.

3:55

She'll probably leave that home to her son.

3:57

And those are the generational legacies that we need when we're sitting on the east side board.

4:03

Al is also very active in the community.

4:07

When it comes to an open door policy, she's the only one that has a door.

4:11

People in the community can knock on 11 o'clock at night.

4:14

And she actually answers the door.

4:17

And with that, I want to say thank you for allowing her to be on that board because she is what we're looking for when we say the voice of the community.

4:27

Second of all, I want to say thank you for the resolution for Judge Henry Lee Adams.

4:34

I know it's hard to believe that I could probably be in the same family as Judge Adams, but I am.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Personnel Matters██████████████████21%
Parks and Recreation██████7%
Community Engagement█████6%
Racial Equity████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure███4%
Arts And Culture██2%
Affordable Housing██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee Meeting - May 18, 2026

The Rules Committee of the Jacksonville City Council met on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 2:01 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting was chaired by Chris Miller, with Vice Chair Terrance Freeman excused and Ken Amaro departing early. Members present included Ron Salem, Randy White, Mike Gay, and Michael Boylan. The meeting adjourned at 3:26 PM. The committee considered numerous items including deferrals, appointments, and several substantive ordinances and resolutions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bobby O'Connor expressed frustration that committee members who voted against Councilmember Peluso's resolution (2026-0356) to exclude historically redlined areas from consideration for a new jail did not truly understand the lasting effects of redlining. She urged support for the resolution, calling it a “no-brainer” that would be an “acupuncture treatment” for the city.
  • Latavia Harris spoke in support of Alice Nelson's appointment to the Eastside Grants Committee, highlighting Nelson's generational legacy and community service. She also thanked the committee for the resolution honoring Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr., noted his Eastside roots, and opposed placing a jail in redlined districts, adding that those areas already face significant challenges.
  • Marshall Adkison (noted in minutes but did not speak according to transcript) and Robyn Cenizal (present but did not wish to speak) were listed as public commenters.

Discussion Items

  • Emerald Trail – Hogan’s Creek to Riverwalk (2026-0327): The committee approved a substitute ordinance appropriating $12,599,258 for land acquisition and authorizing eminent domain for 17 commercial parcels (mostly vacant, within the 100-year floodplain). Discussion focused on the status of businesses on the parcels; administration confirmed only two may have parking operations. Councilmember Gay expressed concern about impacts on affected businesses.
  • Edward Waters University Track Improvements (2026-0336): The committee approved an amendment redirecting up to $2,000,000 from a previously approved living/learning center to planning, design, and permitting of an NCAA-compliant 400-meter track. The amendment added a 10-year use agreement with public access windows (weekdays 6-9 AM and 6-9 PM, Sundays 12-6 PM), annual wellness events (increased from 4 to 6), and a clawback provision. The auditor recommended recording the use agreement with the Clerk of Court, but the committee declined, citing EWU's long history and the assignment clause in the contract.
  • Surplus Vehicle Donation (2026-0337): Approved an amendment clarifying that the 1979 Chevrolet Malibu (formerly used in JSO's “Beat the Heat” program) must retain JSO insignia for at least 5 years, with oversight by JSO rather than Fleet Management. The vehicle, valued at $15,000, is donated to The Brumos Collection for museum display.
  • Honorary Street Designation for Pastor Ernie L. Murray Sr. (2026-0317): Approved an amendment removing one waiver (honoree lived within 5 miles for 10 years) and correcting the roadway description to only the church parcel frontage. The ordinance still waives the requirement that the honoree be deceased for 5 years.
  • Youth Empowerment Funding (2026-0362): Appropriated $5,200,000 from the Special Committee on Youth Empowerment contingency account to the Kids Hope Alliance for programs serving youth ages 16–24 in 61 dual-distressed census tracts. Funds will be competitively procured via RFP; awards capped at $1,000,000 per organization. The ordinance waives age restrictions to allow KHA to serve the 16–24 age range.
  • Resolution on Jail Location and Redlining (2026-0356): Councilmember Peluso urged the committee to pass the resolution recommending that any future pre-trial detention facility not be located in historically redlined areas. Discussion repeated from the morning session. The resolution failed on a vote of 0–5 (Miller, Salem, White, Gay, Boylan all nay; Freeman excused, Amaro departed).
  • Appointments: The committee confirmed numerous mayoral and council appointments, including:
    • Robin M. Lang (reappointment to Council on Elder Affairs, 6-0)
    • Mario Decunto (Library Board of Trustees, 5-0)
    • Ivan Mote (Downtown Development Review Board, 5-0)
    • Jeffrey Drushal (Cultural Service Grant Program Committee, 6-0)
    • Katherine Moore (Ethics Commission, 6-0)
    • Heather Reber and Brian Parks (Assistant Council Auditors, each 6-0)
    • Kimberly Corbin (Chief of Municipal Code Compliance, 5-0)
    • Ernest Smith (Housing & Community Development Commission, 5-0)
    • Alice Nelson (Eastside Grants Committee, 5-0)
    • Jackie B. Scheel (Civil Service Board, JEA rep, 5-0)
    • Raj Gupta III and Jason I. French (Health Facilities Authority, each 5-0)
  • Honorary Resolutions: Approved resolutions honoring Todd Booth and Alhambra Theatre (substitute approved 6-0), Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. (5-0), Judge James A. Ruth (5-0), Joann Manning (recommending Job Corps Center naming, 5-0), Alesha Jones-Seabrooks, Tim Cost, the Sisters of St. Joseph, and various heritage month designations.

Key Outcomes

  • Deferred items: 2024-0627, 2024-0966, 2025-0775, 2026-0192, 2026-0203, 2026-0227, 2026-0318, 2026-0319, 2026-0320, 2026-0335, 2026-0358, 2026-0363, 2026-0364 (deferred to later dates).
  • Withdrawn items: 2026-0338, 2026-0339, 2026-0350 (withdrawn by request of appointee or administration).
  • Approved ordinances/resolutions: 2026-0317 (Amend/Approve 5-0), 2026-0327 (Substitute/Approve 5-0), 2026-0336 (Amend/Approve 5-0), 2026-0337 (Amend/Approve 5-0), 2026-0362 (Approve 5-0), plus numerous appointment and honorary resolutions all passed unanimously except where noted.
  • Failed resolution: 2026-0356 (Redlining/jail location) failed 0-5 in Rules (previously failed 1-6 in NCSPHS).
  • Second readings: Items 2026-0376, 2026-0378, 2026-0382, 2026-0383, 2026-0385, 2026-0387, 2026-0389, 2026-0396, 2026-0399, 2026-0400, 2026-0401, 2026-0402, 2026-0414, 2026-0415 were read and rereferred to subsequent committees.
  • Next meeting: Scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Welcome everyone to the Monday, May 18th, 2 p.m. Rules Committee meeting. If we would start with introductions with Mr. Dennis, please. Garrett Dennis administration. Colleen Hamsey, Council Research. Mary Stefopoulos, Office of General Counsel. Trista Carriher, Council Auditor's Office. Canamar, City Council District 1. Randy White, District 12. Chris Miller at large group five. Group two at large. My gay district two. Good afternoon, Michael Boylan, District Six. Alright, thank you, everyone. Do we have any public comment cards? Thank you. We have three. Okay, in order, and you have three minutes. If we could start with Bobby O'Connor and then Latavia Harris and then Marshall Atkinson, please. My name is Bobby O'Connor. My address is on file. Some of you have already heard me what I have to say, but I because I spoke this morning, but I wanted to add to it. I don't really understand how some of you good people could say that you understand what happened and is happening in redlining. And then you voted no to for Jimmy Palouse, Councilmember Peluso's resolution. That is not in alignment, in my view. If you truly understood what redlining did to this community and is still doing to this community, then you would have voted yes to that resolution for in my thinking. It's really a no-brainer. It costs no money, and I know you all want to be fiscally responsible. How could you not vote yes? You would be standing in solidarity with a large 20 plus percent of the population that you serve, the citizens that you serve. I do not understand, and I believe you don't really understand redlining and the scars that is left and that are still here today in our community in those in those areas which were redlined, and it is still happening. What was it, two years, maybe three, that Amerisbank didn't acknowledge that our account for that they'd done anything wrong, but they settled. You could have made what I would call an acupuncture treatment. You would have changed the energy field in our city. If you could vote yes, and those of you who were not at the meeting this morning, please vote yes to Jimmy Peluso's resolution about not having a jail in a red line community. Don't add to what is already done in the name of all that is good and holy. Do not add to that. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Latavia Harris, please. Good morning. My name is Latavia Harris. My address is on Powell. Um I have two things this morning. I'm here for the confirmation for Miss Alice Nelson. When we talk about east side generation, Alice Nelson fits that marker to the team. Her home was one of the first homes that Reverend C.B. Daly built.

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