OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
BodyJacksonville, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:08
Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good morning, everyone.

0:04

We're gonna go ahead and get started with the Tuesday, May 19th meeting of the Transportation Energy and Utilities Committee.

0:10

Let's start off with introductions.

0:12

That is not Bill Delaney, I'm pretty sure, but maybe my my site is going.

0:17

No, it's not Bill Delaney.

0:18

My hair isn't that long.

0:19

Uh good morning.

0:20

Uh Garrett Dennis Administration.

0:23

Stephen Libby, Council Research.

0:25

Carla Schell, Office of General Council.

0:27

Edward Lindsky, Council Auditor's Office.

0:32

Reggie Gatheny, Junior, District 8.

0:35

Will Lane and District 3.

0:37

Bill Delaney, Mayor's Office.

0:39

No, Matt Carlucci, City Council at Large, Group 4.

0:42

All right, good morning, everyone.

0:44

Just a reminder, we are at our quorum limit.

0:47

There's only four of us, so please do not get up and go.

0:50

Pretty light agenda.

0:52

First off, I'll start.

0:53

Do I have any public comment cards?

0:58

All right.

0:59

We have one.

1:04

I think I need your referring.

1:06

Mr.

1:06

Oliver, are you here?

1:08

Okay.

1:09

Come on down.

1:11

And then looks like Mr.

1:12

Nooney is filling one out and turning it in as well.

1:15

So we'll go, Mr.

1:16

Oliver, Mr.

1:17

Nooney.

1:18

Mr.

1:19

Nooney, go don't go back there too far.

1:24

And it's a two minutes.

1:30

Yes, my name is Carnell Oliver.

1:32

Address is on five.

1:34

Critical investment in this community.

1:37

It's very important.

1:39

But how communities are represented as about the power of the people.

1:45

For a lot of foundational black Americans, we've been walked over.

1:49

And a lot of those problems go back to the 1960s.

1:54

Consolidation failed the old city limits.

2:02

And the heavy lift to undo that is to get every white collar worker.

2:10

Every corrupt politician to understand.

2:21

And I know that it's hot in here.

2:25

Because I know it's just not me.

2:28

Mr.

2:29

Oliver, I'm pretty I'm being pretty lenient here, but do you have an item on the agenda to speak to?

2:33

Well, the items on this agenda is that you got a bunch of public hearings.

2:39

A lot of it is catered to infrastructure.

2:42

Economic opportunities that have been denied to black American communities.

2:46

And the issue for me is that we need more impact fees.

2:51

Don't make people who are foundational black Americans, they're born and raised in this community.

2:58

Pay for new development.

3:04

They came here on their own.

3:06

My family was bought here on a slave ship.

3:10

Deliberate.

3:12

Anybody that comes into this community on their own should pay an impact fee.

Summary of Proceedings

Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026

The Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee of the Jacksonville City Council met on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 9:30 AM in the Council Chamber. The meeting was convened by Chair Will Lahnen and adjourned at 9:54 AM. Five members were present (Lahnen, Johnson, Carlucci, Gaffney Jr., Amaro) and two were excused (Pittman, Clark-Murray). The committee acted on multiple public hearings, an emergency ordinance, and second-read items.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mr. Carnell Oliver spoke on infrastructure inequities and called for impact fees on new development, stating that foundational Black Americans should not pay for development that was historically denied to their communities. He referenced the 1960s consolidation of the city.
  • Mr. John Nooney spoke on several agenda items (2026-0325, 2026-0327, 2026-0328, 2026-0330, 2026-0358, and 2026-0389), often going off-topic. During item 2026-0328, Councilmember Carlucci ruled him out of order for not addressing the specific bill, and Chair Lahnen ended his speaking time. On item 2026-0330, Mr. Nooney again was ruled out of order; he briefly stated support for the closure but continued with irrelevant remarks. Two cards were submitted in support of item 2026-0328 by Maechel Safar and Callie Safar without a request to speak.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1 (2026-0317): Public hearing for honorary street designation for Pastor Ernie L. Murray Sr. on Moncrief Road. Chair Lahnen opened and closed the public hearing with no cards. An amendment was moved and seconded. Mr. Ed Linsky of the Council Auditor's Office explained the amendment: (1) remove waiver of Section 745.105(i)(3) because the honoree lived within 5 miles for at least 10 years, (2) place revised notice documents on file, (3) correct roadway description to reflect only the church parcel frontage, and (4) correct scrivener's errors. Councilmember Amaro praised Pastor Murray for over 30 years of service to the Moncrief Corridor. The amendment was approved unanimously by voice vote. The bill as amended was approved 4-0 (Lahnen, Carlucci, Gaffney Jr., Amaro in favor; Pittman and Clark-Murray excused). Chair Lahnen and Councilmember Gaffney Jr. requested to be added as co-sponsors.
  • Item 2 (2026-0325): Public hearing to close and abandon an easement for potential residential development (District 7). Chair Lahnen opened the hearing; Mr. John Nooney spoke. Chair Lahnen closed the hearing. The bill was approved 4-0.
  • Item 3 (2026-0327): Substitute for appropriation of $12,599,258 from the Emerald Trail - Hogan’s Creek to Riverwalk construction account to the land acquisition account, and authorization of eminent domain for 17 parcels. Mr. Linsky explained the substitute: (1) corrected account code, (2) included details on determination of necessity and placed surveys and reports on file, (3) attached listing of affected properties. Chair Lahnen confirmed with Nina Sickler, Director of Public Works, that this is part of a $30 million total project for that section and only moves funds with no increase. The substitute was approved unanimously by voice vote, and the bill as substituted was approved 5-0.
  • Item 4 (2026-0328): Public hearing to close an unnamed alley for a family-style restaurant (District 9). Mr. Nooney spoke but was ruled out of order. Two support cards submitted but no speaking. The bill was approved 5-0.
  • Item 5 (2026-0329): Public hearing to close a road right-of-way for Fairview Estates, a 50-home development on 70-foot lots (District 8). No public comment. Approved 5-0.
  • Item 6 (2026-0330): Public hearing to close a 5-foot drainage easement for a garage (District 4). Mr. Nooney spoke but was ruled out of order. A scrivener’s correction was made (strike "140543-000" insert "140543-0000"). Approved 5-0.
  • Item 7 (2026-0358): Deferred at the request of CM Gay; deferred from the NCSPHS committee meeting for further discussion.
  • Item 8-14 (2026-0379, 0389, 0390, 0391, 0393, 0394): Second-read items read and rereferred to the next meeting. No action taken.
  • Item 12 (2026-0392): Emergency ordinance to authorize an agreement with CSX Transportation for a private sidetrack at Cecil Commerce Center. Mr. Linsky explained the emergency: the contractor is on site and would have to demobilize and remobilize at additional cost without one-cycle emergency passage. Chair Lahnen confirmed the bill relates to the previously approved Cosentino Group economic development agreement. The emergency was approved unanimously by voice vote, and the bill was approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved:
    • Item 1 (2026-0317) – Honorary designation for Pastor Ernie L. Murray Sr., as amended (4-0).
    • Item 2 (2026-0325) – Easement closure for residential development (4-0).
    • Item 3 (2026-0327) – Emerald Trail land acquisition appropriation, as substituted (5-0).
    • Item 4 (2026-0328) – Alley closure for restaurant (5-0).
    • Item 5 (2026-0329) – Road closure for Fairview Estates (5-0).
    • Item 6 (2026-0330) – Drainage easement closure for garage (5-0).
    • Item 12 (2026-0392) – Emergency CSX sidetrack agreement (5-0).
  • Deferred: Item 7 (2026-0358) – Towing ordinance deferral.
  • Rereferred: Items 8-11, 13-14 (2026-0379, 0389, 0390, 0391, 0393, 0394) – second-read items, no vote.
  • Next meeting: Scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. We're gonna go ahead and get started with the Tuesday, May 19th meeting of the Transportation Energy and Utilities Committee. Let's start off with introductions. That is not Bill Delaney, I'm pretty sure, but maybe my my site is going. No, it's not Bill Delaney. My hair isn't that long. Uh good morning. Uh Garrett Dennis Administration. Stephen Libby, Council Research. Carla Schell, Office of General Council. Edward Lindsky, Council Auditor's Office. Reggie Gatheny, Junior, District 8. Will Lane and District 3. Bill Delaney, Mayor's Office. No, Matt Carlucci, City Council at Large, Group 4. All right, good morning, everyone. Just a reminder, we are at our quorum limit. There's only four of us, so please do not get up and go. Pretty light agenda. First off, I'll start. Do I have any public comment cards? All right. We have one. I think I need your referring. Mr. Oliver, are you here? Okay. Come on down. And then looks like Mr. Nooney is filling one out and turning it in as well. So we'll go, Mr. Oliver, Mr. Nooney. Mr. Nooney, go don't go back there too far. And it's a two minutes. Yes, my name is Carnell Oliver. Address is on five. Critical investment in this community. It's very important. But how communities are represented as about the power of the people. For a lot of foundational black Americans, we've been walked over. And a lot of those problems go back to the 1960s. Consolidation failed the old city limits. And the heavy lift to undo that is to get every white collar worker. Every corrupt politician to understand. And I know that it's hot in here. Because I know it's just not me. Mr. Oliver, I'm pretty I'm being pretty lenient here, but do you have an item on the agenda to speak to?

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