Jacksonville City Council Meeting - May 26, 2026
Jacksonville City Council Meeting - May 26, 2026
The Jacksonville City Council met on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 5:02 p.m. for a regular meeting. The meeting included multiple legislative actions, public comment, and debate on key issues such as a proposed jail location, a Culinary Institute of America campus, and a resolution to prohibit jails in historically redlined neighborhoods. Several bills were approved, while the redlining resolution failed.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the May 12, 2026, regular meeting.
- Approved the consent agenda consisting of numerous routine bills (2026-312 through 2026-413).
- Confirmed multiple appointments to city boards and commissions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jail Location / Redlining: Numerous speakers, including Reverend Dr. R. LaRoy Gundy, Jaquan Easton, Katie Hathaway, Lydia Bell, Isaiah Rumlin, Latavia Harris, Sally Barnes, Denise Scott, Keanu Blaylock, Bobby O'Connor, Trey Ford, Vanessa Alvarez, Etta Ettlinger, Wells Todd, Amina Sharif, Lou Dawson, Dragon Beloit, Monica Gold, Nancy Murray Suttle, Anthony Brown, Denise Cook, Samantha Seeres, Shane Trumbore, Jamie Travis Leonard, and others expressed opposition to placing a new jail in historically redlined or predominantly Black neighborhoods. They urged support for Resolution 2026-0356.
- Connor Collie Case: Multiple speakers, including Vanessa Alvarez, Shane Trumbore, Sarah Posey, Avery Holbrook, and Felix Bonaventure, demanded justice for Connor Collie, who was arrested during a prior council meeting, calling his conviction politically motivated and urging council members to attend his sentencing hearing.
- Free to Garden Act: Nathan Ballantine, James Clower, and Ronnie Walker spoke in support of the Free to Garden Act, which would make community and market gardens permissible by right, citing benefits for food security and community health.
- Other Speakers: Johnny Turner advocated for reopening fishing access at the George Crady Bridge. Jake Jacobs thanked council for supporting a watershed study for Hogpine Creek. Tabitha Byers thanked council for honoring Tina Savage and supported the jail resolution. John Nooney spoke on multiple bills during public hearings, often criticizing process.
Discussion Items
- Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Campus (Item 80, 2026-0419): The council considered an emergency bill to set aside funds for negotiation with the CIA for a southeast campus in Jacksonville. Andre Wallace (JAX USA) explained the funds would not be expended until a term sheet and redevelopment agreement were approved. A floor amendment cleaned up technical language. Robert Jones (CIA Vice President) described the institute's impact on workforce development, including programs for veterans and school nutrition. The bill passed as an emergency amendment with a vote of 16 yes, 2 nays.
- Retirement of Kim Taylor (Item 126, 2026-0469): The council unanimously approved a resolution honoring Kim Taylor, outgoing council auditor, with a vote of 18 yes, 0 nays.
- Submerged Land Lease (Item 172, 2026-0461): An emergency bill approving a submerged land lease amendment was passed with a vote of 18 yes, 0 nays.
- Election Qualifying Deadline (Addendum Item 179, 2026-0474): A floor amendment corrected qualifying deadlines for an upcoming election. The bill passed as an emergency with a vote of 18 yes, 0 nays.
- Jail Redlining Resolution (Item 95, 2026-0356): Councilmember Peluso introduced a resolution to prohibit building any new jail facilities in historically redlined neighborhoods. After debate, the resolution failed with a vote of 5 yes, 12 nays. Councilmembers Peluso, Salem, Carlucci, Gaffney, and Johnson spoke in favor; Councilmembers Amaro, Freeman, Diamond, and others opposed, citing the need to wait for a consultant's feasibility study.
- Other Third Reading Items: Several ordinances were passed on third reading, including 2026-0315, 0317, 0321, 0336, 0362 (with two abstentions).
- Funding for Local Chambers (Items 173-176, 2026-0462, 0464, 0465): Emergency bills to release previously approved funding for the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce and others were passed with votes of 16 yes, 1 nay.
- Postponement of Appointment Bill (Item 178, 2025-0872): Councilmember Salem postponed the bill on council appointments to June 9, 2026, after receiving a legal opinion from General Counsel. Vote to postpone was 17 yes, 0 nays.
Key Outcomes
- CIA Campus: Approved as an emergency (16-2) – funds authorized for negotiation, no expenditure until final agreements.
- Jail Location Resolution: Failed (5-12) – no prohibition established; consultant study to continue.
- Retirement Recognition: Unanimously approved (18-0).
- Election Qualifying: Approved as emergency (18-0).
- Chamber Funding: Three bills approved (16-1 each).
- Appointment Bill: Postponed to June 9, 2026.
- Public Hearings: Multiple public hearings were held on various land use and zoning items; final action deferred on some to future dates.
- Adjournment: Meeting adjourned with prayer at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
That's something you have to everybody else today. Okay. All right, we have 14. Good afternoon and welcome to the Jacksonville City Council meeting. Today is Tuesday, May 26th, 2026. It is 5.02 p.m. Let the record reflect is the latest I've ever started this meeting, but I'm glad you're all here. So we're going to start off with roll call. No, we're not. We're going to get the invocation going. Chaplain, I'm going to turn it over to you. Thank you, Mr. President. If you'll all stand. This evening our invocation will be delivered by Chaplain Corey McDonald. He's a U.S. Army veteran and past of a local church. He's also a nine-year veteran officer and current chaplain of Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Corey is the first active duty officer to fill the role of chaplain in a full-time capacity. This change was implemented by Sheriff TK Waters, which speaks to the importance he places on the spiritual welfare of our members and partnerships with our faith-based community and our religious and government leaders. This change is vital to the success of JSON efforts to improve and foster community relations at all levels. Corey has been married to his wife for 14 years. They have a 12-year-old daughter together. Please receive Chaplain Corey McDonald for tonight's invocation. And so thank you for allowing me to be with you. Let's jump right into it. Please join me in prayer. Our most kind and gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us. God, we thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die for us that we may have life and have it more abundantly. We thank you for being the United States of America and still one nation under God. And we thank you for being in the greatest country that I believe is upon this earth. A country that values equality and diversity of its people. And God, we thank you as we reflect on Memorial Day that just passed. We remember those who have paid so much and sacrificed so much in service to our country and our community right here in Jacksonville. Thank you for all those from our military service members, our law enforcement and first responders, fire rescue, our lawmakers, our city council members, for all those that have such an impact on the daily life of the citizens of Jacksonville. With the with a vote of leadership and changing of leadership, I think it's appropriate to be reminded in the word that those of us that enter into leadership or these roles that have such an impact to be reminded of Jesus' methods. We're reminded in Matthew chapter number 20. Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. Even as the Son of Man came not to be minister unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. We're also reminded of Philippians chapter 2 says, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in loneliness of mind. Let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man unto his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of servant. God help us to serve with humbleness of heart, the citizens of Jacksonville. Help us to love one another, help us to love you first and put you first in all things. We love you. Be with these proceedings tonight, and uh be upon us and keep your hand upon us. We ask that you bless this time in Jesus' name. Amen. I pledge allegiance.
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