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.

Thank you, Mr.

Chaplin.

No announcements.

We'll go ahead and go to roll call.

Eighteen present.

All right.

Now I'm gonna go ahead and turn it over to our celebrity guest, Twitter celeb floor leader, Councilmember Diamond.

You're gonna be running the floor tonight, sir.

Thank you.

Super excited about it, Mr.

President.

I won't lie.

Uh all right.

Alright, uh, I move the approval of the minutes to the regular city council meeting in May 12th.

We've got a motion and a second on the approval of the amendments.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any posts say nay?

The minutes carried.

Mr.

President, we have we voted on that.

Did we vote?

Did you say it?

Yeah, we all said aye.

Gotcha.

Mr.

President, we have several communication.

The mayor's office and others.

Would you like those read or filed?

Let's go ahead and follow the way.

Alright, Mr.

President, we have one presentation tonight.

Before I ask the clerk to read the resolution, I would ask Councilmember Carlucci ahead of the podium.

Mr.

Teal, please read the resolution.

Resolution 2025-666.

The Jacob Jewelers Clock, a beloved and iconic fixture in downtown Jacksonville, and a symbol of the city's endurance and history following the great fire of 1901 had long stood silent and in disrepair.

Tina Silvage, founder of Jack's Tours, while leading a historical walking tour downtown, recognized the significance of the broken clock and was inspired to spearhead efforts to restore it as part of her broader mission to support Jacksonville's revitalization through cultural, historical, and community-based work.

Ms.

Silvage's leadership was bolstered by support from placemaking Jacks, Downtown Vision, and numerous community partners who shared in the vision of celebrating and preserving Jacksonville's past as a foundation for its future.

After significant outreach and coordination, Ms.

Savage partnered with Alex Safakis, president of JWB Real Estate Companies, who, though not one of though not the owner of the clock, committed to fully fund the restoration of the Jacob Jewers Clock and assume responsibility for its annual maintenance as a gift to the people of Jacksonville.

The restoration effort involved coordination with the Jacksonville History Center, the Veridan Clock Company, and the City of Jacksonville for the required certificates of appropriateness reflecting a collaborative spirit among private citizens, local businesses, and government entities.

The successful restoration of the Jacob Jewelers Clock serves as a powerful symbol of what is possible when passionate individuals, civic-minded businesses, and engaged community leaders work together to honor the city's heritage and invest in its future.

Additional thanks are due to David and Sabel Jamil, Jamil Monk of Shakor, Build Up Jack Build Up Downtown, and many others who played critical roles in supporting and advancing the project.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Jacksonville.

The City Council hereby thanks Ms.

Savage and the network of individuals and organizations who together restored the Jacob Jewelers Clock, honoring the city's cultural heritage and history of perseverance.

Anyone that uh knows me a little bit knows how much I love the history of Jacksonville and downtown.

And um and I found out about this, and it's it's hard to find folks to step up and fix these clocks, they're not cheap to fix.

It's not like taking your Rolex or your Timex or whatever uh, you know, to the store to get it fixed, it's just not and but yet the the the uh entrenched uh value and and the quality of that clock and what it has meant to Jacksonville over the decades and decades and decades.

I mean, I remember when I was a little boy.

I think everybody here has been in Jacksonville for a long time.

But they always seem to kind of break down.

Uh I remember years ago, uh, then Councilmember Hogan, who actually is a relative of uh the uh uh the man that was named that Hogan Street was named after.

Uh he has some council money, uh, as some of these district council members get to fix that clock, and he fixed it, and then it it broke down again.

Um, so I understand you were the one that came up with the uh you discovered it, and then you went to Mr.

Safakas, who's, you know, done so much for um and are doing so much.

Pearl Plaza and so many other things you're doing for Jacksonville.

And I I just we got so many great things happening, and they're big, but I gotta tell you, this is not a big odd object, but it is big in our history, and these type of things should not be left um with a story untold.

And um so I want to thank you on behalf of all of my colleagues that you stepped up, you saw a problem, and you took action, and then you came out of nowhere and said, Hey, you know, the city's been good to me, and we're gonna help pay for that.

Um, I I know for one I'm so thankful, but I know so many other people that are thankful.

How many of y'all know about the the big clock that they do?

The Jacobs Jewelers.

Okay.

So a lot of people know about it.

And um, uh answer me a question, if you don't mind, the council president.

If you don't mind if I ask for a question, just how many things does that clock do?

It's got lights, it's got it it it makes it it of course it rings and so forth, but uh it and and just tell me what kind of comments you get when you give people tours around the city and and uh just give us a little background on that.

Yeah, so the clock is incredibly significant to our history, you know, aside from just how beautiful it is, it's only one of a handful that still exists today in the entire country.

So we're very lucky to have it.

And on top of that, um the Greenleaf and Crosby company when they first commissioned it, it was right after the fire of 1901 to prove to everyone here that they're staking a claim in Jacksonville and everyone should too to help revitalize and rebuild a testimony to what's happening now.

So aside from it looking beautiful and chiming and lighting up at night and telling the right time, it's actually very significant, especially today because it signifies that same development and that same faith that we have in the city.

And how does it light up?

Tell me about the lights.

Oh, just regular bulb lights.

But it's got bulb lights around, it has bulb lights and it used to be run by a sand system, um, but now it's actually run by Palm Pilot, if you can believe it.

Well, an early two thousands palm pilot, but it still works.

And we just got cut off, but I ain't gonna worry about the cutoff thing, and I've my son's vice president.

I got a little care.

I carry a little clout around here tonight now.

So a little bit, just a little bit.

Um I want to ask Alex what inspired you to step up like you did to take to handle this thing tonight.

I mean it was really just 10 seconds, Alex.

We we love the clock, it's a great, great part of Jacksonville's history, and so we wanted to support the uh the renovation of it.

So well I I speak on behalf, I think of everybody in Jacksonville, we thank you for what you did, stepping up out of nowhere, you observing it, taking the uh leadership to do it.

Uh so I want to give the uh council president uh the relief he's looking for and and uh and uh and conclude, but we do want to get pictures of y'all uh with your resolution, so uh here you go, Tina.

That's yours.

Uh ladies first, and Alex, that's yours, and we are the photos right here.

All right.

Well, they're posing for that photo.

Let's do some acknowledgments.

I see past president Sam Newby in the building.

How are you doing, Past President Newby?

I see past President Jerry Holland out front.

How are you doing, Past President Holland?

I heard past council member Joyce Morgan was in the building somewhere.

Are you here?

Councilwoman Morgan, no, she's on the way.

Missing anybody?

Yeah, we got Sam.

Yeah, we don't forget about Sam.

Happy birthday, Alex.

All right, Mr.

Floor Leader, all right.

Yeah, it would be a great time to recognize our pages, Destiny Gail J.

Shelton from Holy Spirit Catholic School, and Daniel Keith Shelton, Paxton School of Advanced Studies.

Thanks for being here.

Let's thank them for volunteering tonight.

Alright, we are on page four quasi judicial ordinances.

Council members should declare any of their extrajudicial discussions, quasi judicial disclosures.

Uh item number one, 2026 0273.

Move the bill.

Yeah, a motion and second on the bill.

I have no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0273.

Item number two, 2026, 0275.

Move the bill.

Got a motion, second on the bill.

I have no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yay, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0275.

Item number 3, 2026, 0276.

Move the bill.

Yeah, and motion second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

17 yay, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0276.

On page five, item number four, twenty twenty-six zero three zero seven.

Move the bill.

Got a motion and second on the bill.

I have no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yay, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0307.

Item number five, 2026 0308.

Move the bill.

Got a motion, second on the bill.

I have no one in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0308.

We are on page six, the consent agenda.

Mr.

Secretary, please read the consent agenda.

2026 312, 313, 314, 316, 323, 325, 328, 329, 330, 332, 334, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 346, 347, 348, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 357, 359, 360, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, and 413.

I didn't hear any polls, Miss President.

So move the whole consent agenda.

Got a motion and second on the consent agenda.

All of it.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

17 years, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved the consent agenda.

All right, this would be a great time to recognize our incredible rules, chair.

The colonel is in the house.

Mr.

Rules Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

We have just approved the following appointments as part of the consent agenda.

If you are in the audience, please stand to be recognized.

Robin Lang to the Jacksonville Duval County Council on Elder Affairs.

Mario DeQunto on the Library Board of Trustees.

Ivan Mote to the Downtown Development Review Board.

Jeffrey Druschel to the Cultural Service Grant Program Committee.

Catherine Moore to the Jacksonville Ethics Commission.

Heather Raber to the position of Assistant Council Auditor.

Brian Parks to the position of assistant counsel auditor.

Kimberly Corbin to the position of Chief of the Municipal Code Compliance Division.

Ernest Smith to the Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission.

Alice Nelson to the East Side Grants Committee.

Jackie B.

Sheel to the Civil Service Board.

Raj Gupta the Third and Jason I.

French to the Jacksonville Health Facilities Authority.

A lot of people please join me in thanking them for their public service.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, Mr.

President.

We are going to do some hopscotch.

So everybody keep your head on a swivel.

We're jumping around.

First place we're going is page 29, item 80.

Page 29, item 80.

All right, sir.

We're there.

Second.

Let's open the public hearing.

If you could allow the floor leader to announce the bill number, Mr.

Arias.

It is item 80, 2026 060419, which has been discharged from NCPHS per the council president.

Oh.

Open the public hearing.

No speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Is it on is it public participation?

Or is it okay?

It's on there.

Alright, we have one speaker card.

You'll want to reopen that, Mr.

President.

Public hearings reopen.

Alright, one speaker card, John Nooney.

Come on down, Mr.

Nooney.

I don't see him.

No other speaker cards.

Alright, no other speaker cards.

So this public hearing is c actually before I close public hearing.

Mary, if I wanted to bring someone up to speak to this bill, would it be appropriate to do it now or after we've closed the public hearing as an informal question?

So to to the council president.

So if you wanted to allow for a more open dialogue, you would do it during the public hearing.

However, if it's just going to be to ask questions, as long as they're simply responding to the questions, you can close the public hearing to be most flexible.

If you want to keep it open, you might want to do it that way.

We keep it open.

I'd like uh Mr.

Andre Wallace from Andre Wallace.

So uh from Jacks USA to come on downre Wallace, President of Jackson.

Andre Wallace, President of Jacks USA partnership with regards to the bill itself.

Um, thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak on this.

To process, I do recognize that this is somewhat unorthodox.

Normally, you negotiate a term sheet, no negotiate the redevelopment agreement or economic development agreement, and you bring it forward to whatever respective body, whether it's the downtown investment authority or directly to city council or downtown investment authority in directly onto city council for its approval.

What we've asked you to do in this respective legislation is to move forward with setting aside funds, then allowing us to negotiate the term sheet and the redevelopment agreement and bring it forward to you.

You're not in this legislation authorizing any funds to be expended at this respective point in time.

You still have to go through the downtown investment authority's disposition process, term sheet negotiation, as well as a redevelopment agreement that has to come back to you for final vote.

But if you take this step this evening, this gives us the downtown investment authority and others the opportunity to continue to negotiate with the Culinary Institute of America to get to a place and the developer on a lot development group.

Get to a place where there is a term sheet and a redevelopment agreement for you all to vote upon.

But this approval, proving this ordinance does not do anything in terms of funds going out the door.

You still have to finally approve this as a legislative body.

I want to make sure that the process was clear with you all, and this is being done because the Culinary Institute of America has a board meeting set on June 15th and June 16th that would take a vote saying that Jacksonville would serve as a southeast campus for the culinary institute of America.

Only trying to meet their respective time frame.

I can take any questions if you deem appropriate.

Alright, thank you for coming down, Mr.

Wallace.

Seeing no other questions, I think we do have a public comment card.

Someone has arrived now that we left it open.

That's my fault.

Mr.

Nooney, name and address.

All right.

All right.

I am John J.

Noone.

Jacksonville City Council resolution 2023 0819.

Address of the City Council District 4 Ocho Trace Cinco City Spaskam Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216.

Uh CPAC 3 School Board District 3.

Yeah, CIA stuff.

You know, the Culinary Institute of America.

Or as we will soon have Carico's impressive appetizers.

I mean, we are just, you know, this is good stuff.

And what the thing that we should really be concerned about, you know, 35 million bucks.

You know, we're marketing to the world.

And you know, you got CIA, you flip it around, and it's a spin off the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

You know, the state of Florida, tourism.

It's all about tourism.

Heads and beds.

And then not only that, feeding everybody.

So all I want, I'm just down to a minute 50.

But, you know, this was agenda item 80.

You know, I filled out a couple, you know, I'm out there, you know, and it's like, hey, get in there.

There's other emergencies.

You know, is it that much of an emergency?

You know, that other people, you know, this, it's not even just this bill, but all these bills.

Should we just be packed?

So uh, no, 35 million bucks.

You know, uh, I just be really curious about the clawback provisions.

And you know, when you look at all the different restaurants that are around, and all the other previous restaurants, you know, that are looking for startup or looking, you know, just you know, to do something, but uh anyway, you know, it's here, you know.

You we just heard from Andra Wallace, and you look at the different boards, commissions, things like that.

You know, uh I'm gonna be the last.

Listen, I'm I'm I'm all in, but you have to have this oversight, and so if we're bringing it here, get ready to market to the world, and especially on our waterways.

I filled out another piece of legislation that has to do with just probably gonna be right after you finish with this piece of legislation, another one that was buried in the agenda.

But anyway, I'm in and CIA, all the way.

Thank you.

No further speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Move the emergency.

Got a motion second on the emergency.

No one in the queue.

All in favor of the emergency, signify by saying aye.

Aye, any opposed say nay.

All right, I'm gonna pass the gavel to the president elect.

Emergency is approved.

The emergency is approved, and Council President Carico, you are recognized.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President elect.

I rise to introduce a floor amendment.

Uh, a lot of it's technical cleanup.

Uh we did have to rush the bill to the floor a bit to get in front of the CIA board, uh, who meets this month.

So, um, Mary, if you want to explain any further details of the cleanup, or if anyone has any other questions, be happy to answer them before you vote on the amendment.

Second, thank you through the vice president or the president designate to the president and the council.

Uh, so correct.

This amendment contemplates everything that was included in the finance committee's amendment, which was uh cleaning up some scrivets, um, reflecting that in lieu of the language that said that the tourist development council had pledged a million dollars to support the development, that it had committed to support the development by finding other dollars within the budget that could be supplanted with tourist development dollars instead of a direct allocation to the project.

Um, and then the last change um that was reflected in this amendment is to update the exhibit one, which is the term sheet to just clarify the allocation of available COJ funds to the project as a future commitment that's being proposed through the bill.

Um it previously referenced workforce development funds, all capital, such that it sounded like there was a separate bucket being set aside or that has already been created just for workforce development, and that's not accurate, so we're just referencing that it's a future allocation of COJ dollars to the project.

Thank you, Mary.

The council president moved the floor amendment and the floor leader seconded it.

So we have no other speakers on the queue.

Let's take this vote on the floor amendment verbally.

All those in favor of the floor amendment indicate by saying aye.

Aye, all against saying no.

The floor amendment passes.

Move the bill as an emergency as amended.

We have a motion and second on the bill as an emergency as amended.

Vice President elect Carlucci recognized.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

I just wanted to give the opportunity uh for the CIA to come up before we vote on this and just uh explain a little bit about the other project, or we can do it after the vote either way.

I just wanted to extend the floor to them.

Bring them in.

Public hearings reopen.

All right.

Well, then I have a question for this gentleman with the CIA.

Can you tell me a little bit about your project?

Thank you.

Yes, I have a name and address.

Please.

Yeah.

So my name is Robert Jones.

I'm the vice president of strategic partnerships for the Culinary Institute of America.

Um, let me start by thanking the full council, especially Council President President Carico, President Elect Hallen, incoming President elect designate Carlucci, and Mayor Deegan for the incredible political alignment on this topic and the role our institution could play in the future of the city.

What began in 1946 as a bold mission by two visionary women to train returning GIs from World War II has today grown into a global institution shaping the future of food.

Last week we celebrated our 80th anniversary, and now we have campuses in New York, California, Singapore, and Texas.

Our San Antonio campus has been rightly compared as the best fitting model for a potential expansion in Jacksonville.

San Antonio is home to five major military bases, and the CIA has provided workforce development training to all of them.

Even today, and support of the Department of Defense's Go for Green initiative, the CIA is helping update hundreds of recipes and training military cooks to prepare nutrient dense meals that enhance physical performance and troop readiness.

And through our ProChef certification program, service members and veterans receive industry recognized certification to create a more seamless pathway into civilian life after they leave the service.

The same can be true for Jacksonville in the months and years to come.

Our work to improve regional workforce and community nutrition also extends to the K 12 space and school meals.

We've partnered with departments of education and independent school districts to upskill cafeteria workers from food servers into skilled culinary operators.

By teaching professional techniques, food safety, and nutrition science, the program has elevated both the quality of school meals and the professional standing of food service workers.

In fact, in San Antonio ISD alone, by reducing the cost of school meals by four four cents per student, we've saved the city of San Antonio three million dollars per year.

In short, today, just over a decade after opening the campus in San Antonio, it is a UNESCO creative city of gastronomy, has three Michelin stars and dozens of James Beard Foundation recognized chefs that are CIA alumni.

This gastronomic renaissance has helped to generate measurable returns across uh economic, social, and cultural dimensions.

In fact, the hospitality industry in San Antonio is measured at more than 21.5 billion annually.

This is bolstered by thousands of high spending tourists who come to CIA campuses each year for our food enthusiast boot camps to get a chance to learn from the best of the best.

As we I a strategic, bring it on home for me, sir.

Sorry, we only allow three minutes per speaker.

So just wrap it up in 10 seconds.

I know you came all the way from Hyde Park, but rules are the rules.

I understand.

As we I a strategic expansion, we are super excited about Jacksonville.

We see incredible political alignment, growth ambitions, and a reasonable cost of living aligned with priorities around serving our nation's veterans, the power of food is medicine, and a confluence of partners, including this council.

Thank you very much for the time.

All right, thank you.

Uh closed public hearing.

Dr.

Salem, recognized.

All right, thank you.

So uh no one else is in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

16 yes, two nays.

By your action able for 2026-0419.

And if I could hand the gavel over to the president-elect one more time, just so I can say a few closing words on this legislation.

Sir, you're recognized.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President elect.

Gotta get used to saying that.

Uh, I just wanted to thank CIA and all the uh players involved that got us to this point uh to Andre Wallace at Jacks USA, Cornelot, and uh anyone that uh believed in this project as much as I did, you know, coming from a hospitality background.

Uh I believe this stuff.

My brother's a chef.

Uh, I grew up in the business and uh understand the difference of good education in this world could make, and uh starting your own restaurant or just working for uh a Michelin star chef.

Like this could this could change life.

So I'm really excited that this opportunity is before if we got some more work to do.

Obviously, we've got to uh fund this and come up with a with a great project and deal to bring back, but I want to thank my colleagues for supporting it to this point and thank everyone else involved.

I appreciate it uh the time, Mr.

President Elect.

Thank you, sir.

All right, Mr.

President, we're due to another jump.

We're going to page 47, page 47, item 126.

I move the emergency.

I thought I did.

2026 0469.

You win.

All right.

Uh motion and second on the emergency.

All in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

Emergency carries.

Mr.

President, I move a council amendment.

All right.

Got a motion and second on a council amendment.

This one's a no-brainer.

All in favor of the council amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any posts say nay, you better not.

All right.

Move the bills amended.

An emergency on the bill as amended.

As an emergency.

No one wants to speak.

Okay.

Please open the bell and record your vote.

All right.

Dr.

Johnson, you're you're the poet of the group.

I just I gotta say it.

I rise, Mr.

President, to speak to this amazing amendment or this amazing uh council resolution for an amazing woman.

Uh, I got a chance to not just know Kim in serving on this council, but hearing the great things about Kim from uh the former council auditor Bob Johnson, who, as uh councilman Carlucci said earlier, you were one of the last people, or if not the last, if I'm not mistaken, that uh is part of the Bob Johnson legacy.

But Kim has just been just a wealth of information anytime we need something, day or night, weekends or evenings, uh, you are always there.

While I'm sad to see you leave this position on the council, I think I speak for all 19 of us here.

What we know is that we are better because you were here.

Um, I'll say on a personal note, Mr.

President, uh, during our tenure here, Kim lost her father, and it was probably one of the rainiest days of the year that we saw.

And I literally felt that I needed to go from Orange Park, uh, the West Side area all the way to Arlington so that we could honor her father on behalf of this council.

And Kim, I would do it all over again.

All of us, we are here for you.

If you ever need us, thank you for what you've done.

And I had an opportunity to spend some time with your family who are amazing people, and it shows the testament of who your parents were to who you are.

Thank you again.

Congratulations on your retirement, and know that we're all rooting for you and looking forward to the days that we can go fishing and just hang out as well.

Congratulations.

All right.

Well, so Dr.

Johnson, President Elect Howland, would you like to add anything?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I also wanted to address uh Miss Taylor.

We're it's getting soon where we're not gonna see her anymore, and that's gonna be a sad day for everybody.

Someone is asking me how I describe Kim.

Um, and I used a bunch of words that just kind of kept rolling off the tongue.

They were brief, detailed, succinct, data-driven, informed, and wise.

And it occurred to me that all of us could learn from those uh adjectives there.

And that basically is what Miss Taylor is.

She's had a storied and amazing career, and uh the city is better off for it.

Thank you, Kim, for everything you've done for us.

All right, no one else is in the queue, so please open the ballot, record your vote.

18 years, zero nays.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0469.

All right, another jump.

Hang with me, page 62.

We're going to page 62, item 172, 2026 0461.

Move the emergency.

Got a motion and a second on the emergency.

I'll give everyone a minute to flip there.

We're on page 62, item 172, 2026-0461.

All in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay.

The emergency carries.

All right.

We have two public participation on the emergency after the emergency.

Uh Paul Hardin.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Mr.

Diamond.

Paul Hardin, 1431 River Place Boulevard.

Um, I'm really here to answer any questions anyone might have.

I've tried to outline this in the um uh document I sent over around to the council yesterday.

I just got short notice of it, but it's uh it's a submerged land lease that the cabinet is only gonna meet just one more time before uh the end of their terms and it's next week or June 7th, week after next, with this submerged land lease and the uh amendment to it have been around for a couple of years.

It didn't get signed uh timely, and now my clients, Preston Hollow, own this piece of property having taken it back as the lender earlier on the project.

Um so with that I'll be happy to answer any questions anyone might have, Mr.

Chairman.

All right, no questions.

All right, move the bill.

Got a motion and sorry, was there one more card?

We have one more, John Nooney.

Mr.

Nooney, go on once, going twice, gone.

All right.

Uh move the bill as an emergency.

Got a motion second on the bill as an emergency.

Open the ballot, record your vote.

18 years, zero nays.

By your action you have approved 2026-0461.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Okay, now we are shifting all the way to the addendum.

So page 67.

Check out the addendum.

I move the addendum.

Got a motion and second on the addendum.

All in favor of moving the addendum, signify by saying aye, aye.

Any opposed say nay.

The addendum's been moved.

Item 179 2026 0474, move the emergency.

Got a motion and second on the emergency.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the emergency, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any both say nay?

The emergency carries.

All right, no cards, uh, Mr.

President.

So move the bill.

Alright, we have no public participation cards.

Point of order.

You cannot call a point of order, please be seated.

I do believe there's a floor amendment.

Okay, there's a floor amendment.

Um, I'll move the miller floor amendment.

Got a motion and second on the miller floor amendment.

Colonel Miller, do you want to explain the amendment or have OGC do it?

Mary, you're recognized.

Through the president to the council.

So the floor amendment accomplishes a few things.

Um it corrects the date for the end of qualifying in the title to June 12th.

It also provides for establishing a qualifying petition by petition deadline and adds a provision that states that the qualifying by petition deadline is 5 p.m.

on Monday, June 8th, 2026, and it corrects Scrivener's errors.

All right, that is the amendment, Mr.

Pulso.

You're on the amendment.

All right.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any post saying nay?

The amendment carries the bill as amended.

Got a motion, second on the bill as amended as an emergency.

Councilmember Pelusa, you recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I would just have uh Mr.

Holland if you can come up.

Uh supervisor of elections.

Can you just kind of explain what's about to happen?

I just want to make sure I'm understanding this.

And we just voted on an amendment that allows for June 12th to be the last day of qualifying just by petition or in general.

Uh through the president.

Uh the day of qualifying, which goes from noon on Thursday to Friday, is whether you qualify by petition or pay the qualifying fee.

Uh the deadline for the petitions to come in as the date uh that was given uh earlier.

So what is the last day to qualify?

To be on the ballot and pay.

The last day to qualify would be that Friday at noon.

June 12th, I'm sorry.

That is correct.

So 11 and 12 are the two days to qualify if you're gonna pay, correct?

That is correct.

All right.

Sorry, I've been talking with Mr.

Holland about this for a couple days.

Just want to verify and understand.

All right, and so the actual election day will be what day.

Yes, it'll be 24 hours, exactly.

One day, through the president, no, the actual election for that office.

I'm sorry, through the president.

The election will be concurrent with our fall elections, August 18th, November 3rd, should there be a runoff.

And through the president, it will be a unitary election, just like any other municipal election.

We run a concurrent uh primary election that's a unitary general in August and a second general in November.

Understood.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right, thank you.

Seeing no other speakers for questions, open the ballot and record your vote.

18 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0474.

All right.

Second to last jump here.

Page 40.

Meet me on page 40, item 104, 2026 0337.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion and second on the amendment.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed to say nay.

The amendment carries.

Move the bills amended.

Got a motion second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

18 years, zero nails.

Okay.

Last jump, page 37, page 37, number 99, 2026 0322.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion, second on the amendment.

We'll give everyone a chance to get there.

Page 37, item 99, 2026-0322.

I waited to do this until you were the floor leader.

Mr.

Diamond, thank you so much for helping out.

We do have a motion second on the amendment.

There's no one in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bills amended.

Got a motion and a second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

18 yes, zero nays.

By interaction, you've approved 2026-0322.

If Ms.

Morgan is in the house, you're welcome.

Okay, Mr.

President, now we are to public comment.

Comments from the public per ordinance 2022 475.

Uh the public comment portion of a regular city council meeting shall occur immediately after economic development investments, which we have none.

Comments from the public given during the public comments portion of the meeting except scheduled public hearing shall be limited to up to three minutes per person.

No person shall be allowed to give or transfer his or time.

The council shall reserve one and a half hours.

It is uh 5 45 and it looks like we'll have three minutes for each.

Right.

Mr.

Miller, Colonel Miller says two minutes 30 seconds on the clock for each person based on the number of cards we have.

Here are the first five.

If you are in the first five, please come on down.

Reverend Gundy.

Ooh, man.

Jaquan Easton Sr.

Uh Katie Hathaway, Johnny Turner, and Jake Jacobs.

Come on down.

What's that?

Go ahead, Mr.

Secretary.

Read the rule.

Let's roll.

Council rule 4.505.

Disruption of meeting.

Any person who disrupts a regular meeting of the city council, standing committees, special or select committees, subcommittees, or any other public meeting presided over by a city council member, may be forthwith barred, removed, or otherwise ejected in the discretion of the presiding officer from further attendance at that meeting.

If necessary, due to the nature of the disruption, the audience may be cleared from the council chambers or meeting location in the discretion of the presiding officer.

Any person who receives who refuses to leave the city council chamber may be subject to arrest.

Alright, Reverend Gundy.

Okay, Reverend Dr.

R.

LaRoy Gundy, 2783 on CL Road to Xbox Floor 32218.

I rise uh to say this.

Most people know we need a new county jail, and most know the jail should not be downtown, and I pray most know it should not be in any red line districts.

The resolution of Mr.

Peluso is on point, but it can be uh resolved by the president uh seat by declaring based on the history that this body acknowledges sayings concerning how they have treated the marginalized in their community with redlining only being a portion of many issues.

A former president of the United States by the name of Ronald Reagan once said, and I don't quote him too often.

He said trust, but verify.

We're simply trying to verify that you will not put it in a redlining district.

We're being proactive and ask that you will read the email that I sent to each city councilman for consideration on probable locations and a verification of your honorable word as president and body you will not place it in a redlining district.

Otherwise we'll face with some resolution or ordinance in the future.

We would not be at this point if those who claim they love the Lord had not put self-interest greed and power ahead of simply doing what was right and honorable and leaving you to make a new decision today we wouldn't be here asking you to consider this most of you have said no to the resolution based on my inquiry so let's meet collectively and come up with a collective and positive outcome for location to meet the geographical the economical and community needs.

Now there is a group the Jacksonville Community Action Committee who supports the resolution that Mr.

Belusso is putting before you so I'm just saying to you no matter what you vote we still got to come up with a solution even though the jail may be two three four years down the road don't know but you as the president could say that this is something that we're not going to do and we don't even have to go through the rest of that because you have that power thank you very much.

Thank you Reverend next is Jaquan Fulton Hello finally you got my name right anyway the new jail you want to put it in a red line area well who has to pay for that we do who has to benefit from that we do who has to suffer need to get your address in there oh 1454 West Street Jacksonville Florida keep going who who has to suffer from this to be put in a community that we don't want it in who has to walk down the street every day and see a jail in one of our communities when we already have a jail I've been to jail there's nothing fun about it there's nothing cute about it.

There's nothing you can do there's nothing we can say to make you change your mind because I've already said it you're going to do what you want to do with this anyway so you know but I'm against the jail thing and you know me personally like I say I've been down there.

I've already you know seen what it is inside jail.

So building another jail is just gonna bring more problems to our community and more problems for you because when you're in jail you get treated like you're nobody there's no respect in there at all they treat you like you you know like you was raised to be an animal I was chained like an animal I was treated like an animal I lived in there like I was an animal so being in jail changes you building a jail changes you're whole red line of building a new jail would change the entire community and we will fight against it I will fight against it.

So that's all you sir Katie Hathaway.

Good evening my name's Katie Hathaway and my address is on file I strongly support the resolution to ensure that a new jail is not placed in a historically redlined community I understand that some of you may want to let the consultant's feasibility study play out but if we are not intentional at the forefront then what message are you sending a medical examiner's office was recently placed in Brentwood we cannot allow major city infrastructure tied to incarceration to define historically underinvested communities in Jacksonville what message does this send to our youth?

What does it tell children about how their city leaders see them, value them, or invest in them?

All children deserve to grow up surrounded by opportunity, parks, grocery stores, businesses, and resources, not the continued concentration of facilities that reinforce segment disinvestment.

This resolution is deeper than the location of a jail.

It is about trust, equity, and whether we are willing to say that every neighborhood in Jacksonville deserves dignity, opportunity, and investment.

So please support the resolution tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Johnny Turner.

My name is Johnny Turner.

My edge is on fire.

I'm here to talk about the George Creative Bridge.

I know y'all might be tired looking, but you won't see me for a long time.

And Lord and God give me strength.

And I come to say, how many of y'all been down there?

Give me, give me a hand, everybody done being on to the bridge, George Creative Bridge.

That bridge has been there for a long time.

I was 13 years old when I started.

I thought 69 Friday.

And I'm still going down there.

That place where everybody loves to go fishing there.

Now you know what they done did?

They done shut down Sister Creek right now here to drive.

You can't go there no more.

You can't park nowhere around on the bridge.

They say you can't park there now.

Pouring your cars away.

That's our livelihood.

We feed our planet out there, you know what I'm saying?

Go downtown.

They're gonna shut down downtown.

You can go downtown nowhere.

They tell me you can't park down there.

Okay, big old Crocos downtown.

You got that bitch to them.

That big dumb cause ain't nobody fishing down there.

And we like to go fishing.

We take care of our family.

And we want y'all to do something to open the bridge back up.

We love not down there south.

They tell me they don't close the bridge down.

Well, we're gonna go in.

You tell her when you retire, you go and fish.

You ain't gonna fish around here to drive.

You ain't gonna go around here, you better go up, go up, go to the anywhere.

You might have to go anywhere, but you ain't gonna go around here to drive because they're turning at the bridge.

You ain't nowhere around there, you can be but NASA outside and pass you or not.

They ain't trying to have a no kind of way.

All you're gonna do is try to take away from it and not give us nothing.

And that's our life.

Everybody go down and fish.

On Saturday, you can't even get down there.

Y'all need to come down there.

You need to really come down there.

We talk to you, but you don't know nothing until you see it.

It's a right or wrong.

We can talk to y'all too, we can turn blue in the face.

But if you don't never go down, you won't never know what we're talking about.

So y'all need to come out there and see what we're talking about, we can get the bridge fixed.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next is Jake Jacobs.

After him, the next five are Lydia Bell, Nathan Ballantine, James Clower, and Isaiah Rumlin.

Mr.

Jacobs.

Good evening, uh Jake Jacobs, one four one five five Pine Island Drive.

I just want to say thank you to all the members of City Council that have been willing to uh meet with me or uh shown their support for the uh line item for the water uh shed study that's uh needed to figure out where the uh sediment problem is coming from in Hog Pine Creek.

If there are any uh members that have questions or concerns about the topic, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to uh discuss it with you at a time that's convenient for you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Jacobs.

Next is Lydia Bell, followed by Nathan Ballantyne, James Clower, and Isaiah Rumlin.

Come on down, Ms.

Bell.

Good evening, Lydia Bell, President Wood 300.

Uh, addresses on foul.

The objective is to make life better for the north side, not worse.

You approve the resolution, acknowledging redlining exists, exists and has existed, but you vote to continue redlining.

So we must begin a 2027 voting countdown, because if you oppose the resolution, then that's saying you're voting to put that new jail on the north side.

We don't need that.

And you had the parliaments here this weekend for the Jazz Festival, but it appeared that if you vote against this resolution, we're gonna have to bring the parliaments back, and we're gonna have to burn turn this mother out.

We're gonna turn this mother out because we're tired.

Brentwood is the dumping ground for Jacksonville, and we deserve better.

We're taxpayers, we don't need a jail, we don't need a 300 body more where that poison is going into our system, the drive through look or so.

So we just constantly fighting, fighting, fighting, save the library.

So if this summer, we're gonna watch this vote.

2027 is coming up.

So we're gonna watch who voted to put that jail over there.

Because if you vote to put it over, if you vote against this resolution, then you're voting to put the jail on the north side.

Because if not, you approve it.

Now, as far as Connor Collie, he'll be uh going to Senison on Thursday, 3 p.m.

Out of 20 elected officials, a mayor and 19, you all shouldn't have let that going that far.

Connor is a very nice man, and if anything, you should have banned him uh for five months away from city council, not facing five years of felony, destroying his life.

You all should have you know, you're working against us, and you were voting and being paid to work for us and with us.

So Connor should not be in jail now, and he's only in jail because he came to a city council meeting, and from city council meeting to jail.

Everybody's seeing that tape, and you could pretend like he was wrong, but the man was just standing there, and he's a very nice man.

I hope you all come and support Connor and somebody out of 20 elector fishes to do the right thing.

Next is Nathan Ballantine.

Good evening.

My name is Nathan Ballantyne.

Our farm grows at 125 East 7th Street.

First off, I'd like to thank the council members who have met and communicated with us about the Free to Garden Act, which will make market and community gardens permissible by right in Jacksonville.

Thank you for your time, your feedback, your support and encouragement.

Millennial and Gen Z populations, it turns out would prefer to live adjacent to an urban garden or sustainable farm three to one compared to living next to a golf course.

It would then come as no surprise that agrihoods, master plan communities centered around sustainable farms and community gardens, are one of the hottest trends in real estate development.

The Phoenix Art District, whose PUD this body approved in 2024, has urban agriculture integrated throughout its plan.

As these exemplify neighborhood grown fresh food access is not a nuisance but a core community amenity.

In this light, I'd like to share the policy foundations upon which the Free to Garden Act is built.

First is the vegetable garden preemption, championed by Aaron Bean and signed into Florida law in 2018.

This protects the rights of Florida residents to grow food on their own yards.

Next is the home occupation bill, which is a state level protection for home-based businesses to operate so long as they do so discreetly and without undue traffic.

The administration's state of the food plan research discovered that our local laws were not in compliance.

So Miller and Peluso, thank y'all, have proposed a local version that will bring us into compliance and provide safe haven to some dozens of beloved market gardeners operating on their primary residents who currently live in legal limbo.

This is a great step in the right direction, but doesn't address market gardens that operate on non-residence property, nor does it offer protection for our community gardens.

Speaking of which, the Duval County Comp Plan reads, quote, the city shall encourage community gardens as important open space resources, and yet the zoning code gives this dictate no legs to stand on.

For all these reasons, we're here to support the Free to Garden Act.

We look forward to working with y'all to get it passed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

James Clower.

What do I know about gardening?

I started as a volunteer with an organization called Bridge the Gap of 501c3.

Need your address too, sir.

I'm sorry.

Need your address also, please.

I'm sorry.

Your address?

My address.

Yep.

Just say it's on file.

Oh, 5915 Ortega River Circle.

There you go.

32244.

Um and uh Bridge the Gap is a 501c3 organization located uh physically in Catherine Hester McNair Park, City Park, which used to be called Brentwood City Park.

And uh I got involved as a volunteer there about six years ago because I'm a hobby gardener and they had a patch of dirt surrounded by a chain length fence and wanted to start a garden.

Uh they're primarily uh we are primarily working with uh food insecurity in the Brentwood area.

Um we have food distribution days on Tuesdays and Thursdays in conjunction with our partners, feeding Northeast Florida and the local grocery change public say Harveys who also donate food.

We started that community garden.

It was about 3,000 square feet.

Grew it out to about 6,000 square feet.

About 2,000 pounds of food last year to complement that.

I know from my practice that uh your health is your wealth and good nutrition is very important.

This is a model that can spread across the city with other areas to further develop and help with food insecurity.

The lines are getting longer, not shorter.

And this is a model of how this can work.

And so I speak in support of the Free to Garden Act.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you, sir.

Next is Isaiah Rumlin.

Good afternoon, members of the council.

Isaiah Rumlin 5600 New Kings Road.

I have the pleasure of serving as the president of the Jackson of Bridge and WCP.

I'm here to address the jail situation.

And we all know what redlining and gerrymandering has done to our community in the past.

We know what gerrymanding is taking place right now in this state, in this country, and in other states.

Redlining has always been a concern of ours and the effect that it has on communities.

So we are being proactive and coming before this council to address this situation wherein we have adequate time to sit down and discuss this situation and this jail situation to make sure that as large as Jacksonville is by land, that is, that it will not be placed in a predominant African-American community.

My last question is: would you want this in your community?

Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

Next speaker is Latavia Harris.

After Miss Harris, there'll be Sally Barnes, Romani Walker, Tabitha Byers, and Denise Scott.

You want to come none down.

Latavia Harris, address on file.

I'm here today to talk about the jailhouse as well.

Again, I was raised at 824 East Beaver Street.

The first high rise I've ever known in my life was the jail house.

I can look for my grandparents' house and see the jail house.

Normally I probably don't agree with Pelusa on anything, but I agree with this.

The jailhouse does not need to be in these redlining districts because I mean we're used to it.

Let somebody else do it.

Find somebody else to do it.

I mean, clearly the administration says this Jack's Beach is the best place to live.

Put the gel on Jack's Beach.

I mean, she says it's the best place to live.

Give it to Jack's Beach.

And our neighborhoods, we've seen enough of this.

Like every time you turn around, we get a jail.

We get a morgue.

And no one else's children are being raised under these circumstances, but our children.

Even with me growing up, you walk across the badock, you had C C D on one side, then you had the jailhouse on the other side.

Then you had the Shars Bark was there as well.

So now we're thinking about moving it, but we give a lot of land to developers for a dollar.

I'm sure we can find enough land to put a jail house that's up and out the way.

I mean, we just gave, I think Jazz sold like $300 million, so that's definitely enough to cover their gas to drive to wherever they need to take people to.

That way our children going to school, coming home.

That won't be what they consider high rise.

It's the jail house.

I understand they want to make it state of the art.

Okay.

But we're closing down schools every day.

So we're focusing a lot on where we're going to put a jail house, but not on what we're going to do with public school systems, because even in our neighborhoods, we're closing schools.

So I would ask that this council does not allow the jail house to be put in these neighborhoods in these red line areas, especially when it's historical, because we've done enough of that.

It's y'all turn.

Somebody pick somewhere.

You know, you got all these plantations, oak leaf.

You know, you have a lot of places you can put it.

But I think in our communities, it's it's we've done enough with that.

So I would just ask you guys to right here, stop it at this point, get somebody else to do it.

Let it go somewhere else, and not in our communities.

And like Miss Lydia Bell said, we're not the same people we were in 1619.

You know, if we have to galvanized, if we have to come together collectively to stop it, that's what we'll do.

I mean, we did it with the CBA, we could do it with this jail house.

So all we're asking is don't, well, that's it.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next is Sally Barnes.

Thanks, sir.

My name is Sally Barnes.

My address is on file.

I have a story to tell you all.

Something happened to me at the last committee when we were deciding on who was going to vote on the MacDuffin Commonwealth Avenue project.

I was told by one of the members on the last committee they wait and he wanted to speak with me after the meeting.

And when he told he spoke with me, he says, Well, have you talked to your council person?

Uh, if she had been here, I would have voted no.

What does that tell me?

That my voice don't matter.

So, it's a lot.

A lot of times I come here and I speak, I talk about a lot of different things.

But that's something this person told you know who he is because you were on that committee, and you know who asked me to stay after the meeting, and he said, come back to the council meeting.

Maybe you'll change our mind.

Is that something a council member should tell a person?

No, that's not what he should have told me because I already have doubts to say, well, they've already made up their mind.

And to me, this is telling me that sometimes you already have, but I'm asking you all to support this resolution.

We don't need any more junk in our neighborhoods.

The pea farm is out there, put them next to the pea farm.

They go in there after they go to jail anyway.

Some of them are, so why not put them out there?

Not in a neighborhood where we have our families.

We're raising our families, we're trying to keep our neighborhood clear of crime.

Some of us do call the police and let them know where something's going on and we get results.

But putting a jail in this neighborhood where we've already been redlined, it's time for this to stop.

And I'm asking you all to pass this resolution because we need it.

We need some of our some, we need our areas cleaned up.

We're working on it, but you all can change this by not putting that mail in that that jail in a redlined area.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Ms.

Barnes.

Next is Ronnie Walker.

Good evening.

My name is Hermione Walker.

Address 12565 Willard Lane, Jacksonville, 32218.

Um, I'm here tonight in support of the freedom to uh freedom to garden act.

I represent the Black Church Food Security Network, which is an organization of churches that have been together over the last eight years.

Um, and we have become small farms and urban gardens.

Those the churches that are members of our organization are using their assets, the assets of the church, which is their land, the auditoriums and their kitchens in order to grow healthy food and to help supplement the churches are also uh serving as um food pantries, so in addition to the food pantries, we are able to grow uh products, fresh vegetables.

I brought in uh because the picture is worth a thousand words, and I know that uh what gets attention is supposed to be impact, your impact statements.

So what we have done, and may I give you this?

Will somebody take it?

So what I have submitted to you are photos of our journey to help make our communities safer with the food that we're receiving.

Um, we have activities such as a sort of sanctuary where we grow our products and then on a particular Sunday, we all come together and we either give it or people will purchase.

Um, we did start off the right way.

We took six weeks of training from our local extension office so that we would be growing and knowing what we were doing while we were growing.

We have programs.

Uh, this has allowed us to have additional programs.

We are partners with um farm share uh and other food distributions.

We have what's called a balance and bliss program where we help our community to heal to relax and have a day of giving.

We also have ongoing nutrition training, which is provided through uh Florida AM University's Fnet program, and we also use our local UF extension program, and we actually work as partners in that.

So we would like very much for you to look into and learn more.

We want to keep our doors open so that you guys may come and see what we're doing.

That's time, ma'am.

That's time.

Time?

Yep.

Right now.

All right.

That's okay.

Thank you very much.

One more thing, though.

No, I'm sorry, ma'am.

That I have to do it for everybody.

I appreciate it.

Okay, that's okay.

Next is Tab of the Buyers.

Good evening, Tabitha Buyers.

My address is on file.

I would like to thank Councilman Carlucci for honoring Tina Savage at the beginning of tonight's meeting.

Tina's doing amazing work in this city.

I hope that that's something that we can all agree on, that preserving our history, telling true history is very, very important.

So I'd like to see more support of Tina Savage and Jack's Tours.

Also, thank you to Councilman Peluso for this resolution keeping the jail out of a redlined area.

This same body did vote unanimously in 2024 for the redlining resolution.

So we would like to see you guys follow through with that and keep the jail out of the redlined or historically redlined areas.

Regarding Connor's punishment, the punishment doesn't fit.

You guys threatened to clear the chambers on multiple occasions, and you did not.

And it looks very politically motivated.

The punishment just doesn't fit.

I lost an aunt to what should have been vehicular homicide in North Carolina, and the guy walked away with probation.

So, you know, I think that it's a little harsh, and I support what Lydia was saying.

That hope somebody can stand up and speak out on Connor's behalf that it just doesn't fit.

I'm not saying that there shouldn't be some sort of punishment, but it doesn't fit.

Furthermore, I think there's a resolution that's being discussed that's gonna be working in opposition of what we out here are trying to do, which is to strengthen the neighborhood bill of rights.

I think that is a diamond resolution that's coming up.

I just want to say I oppose that as well.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next is Denise Scott.

The next five after that are Keanu Blaylock, Bobby O'Connor, Trey Ford, and Blake Harper.

Come on down, Ms.

Scott.

Good evening.

My name is Denise Scott and my address is on file.

The one thing about Diamond being the floor speaker or whatever you call them, he can't run out on public comments.

You gotta stay today, bro.

Let's um yesterday we honored the brave men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Here's a little known black history fact.

Did you know that black Americans are the troop um pioneers that created that day back in 1865?

They were honoring on the union prison.

They exhumed the bodies of union prisoners of war from a mass grave and gave them proper barriers.

Did you know that?

Okay.

Um this council agreed some time ago that redlining existed and it still exists in this city.

I'm told that the resolution that Mr.

Paulosi introduced failed in um a couple of committees.

I understand that the vote for this resolution is coming before this council this evening.

Please let the neighbors in these communities um know that you have already this city has already already abused their neighborhoods.

Um you want to put a jail in the neighborhood, and this is the same neighborhood that had the fight to stop the liquor store from being right across the street from the um the school.

That's the same neighborhood that had the fight and still continues to fight by that 300 um body morgue that's three feet from homes and right across the street from the school um I'm like that that young lady said give it to somebody else nobody on this council wants that jail in their neighborhood the one thing that everybody's concerned about is that this jail proposal we got a lot of questions where's it going to be located you all have been frustratingly vague about this answer and you all know it and that's why we keep coming up about it you they didn't take care of the the jail a couple years ago so why do we want to give them that kind of money shame on this council too and the district attorney's office on these trumped up charges for Connor we saw with our own eyes what that officer did he literally drugged that young man over a royal chairs by his neck.

How is that resisting the officer the officer should have been the one on charge shame on all of you and if you don't get a hold of waters you all are going to be getting a lot of lawsuits thank you thank you ma'am next is Keanu Blaylock after Ms.

Blaylock is Bobby O'Connor Trey Ford then Blake Harper.

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee extends our support for resolution 2026-0356 and we thank councilmember Peluso for this proposal our organization has been firmly opposed to the development of this one billion dollar jail as we believe the city should prioritize other funding necessities um just like the person who came up before me um this is the same neighborhood that had to fight and continues the fight against the morgue this is the community that had to fight against the liquor store it is very clear on what you believe about red lighting what you believe about this neighborhood versus what you do here as resolutions all of this is very much connected right Connor's uh conviction um the clapping the anti-clapping um all of that even though you guys really do not care about clapping y'all are cool when it's you know for you you know what I'm saying but when whenever it's against as if you guys can't take criticism as if you guys are not elective elected officials and criticism is a big part of your job um that is when you all get some type of I don't know ego something against your ego when people clap against you it's very telling the double standards and the hypocrisy that happens right here in these chambers um it's it's you guys pick and choose a ton right it's it's it's the redlining it's again it's very clear again how you feel about black Americans it's very clear about how you feel about pro-Palestine community members it's very clear that you rather pick and choose your pockets versus pick and choose the citizen that you claim to be here for um it I it's just over and over and over again that me and my friends and other people this community come and implore you and beg you and demand certain things that just feel like human rights but um you guys eat while we're talking y'all look at your phones while we're talking there's literally no respect for the people that come up here after they're nine to five to then come and fight for their community and I just I'm tired of begging I'm tired of imploring I'm tired of asking for things that are very much one plus one equals two.

So just like multiple people have said is that you guys are starting something within the community and things are building up within the community and things people are trying are starting to see exactly who you people are which are white supremacist monsters thank you.

I'm right here with you Bobby O'Connor next up my name is Bobby O'Connor my address is on file I want to say thank you to councilmember Clark Murray for voting yes on to pass the three fifty six resolution that councilmember Peluso put forward and I want to thank him for putting it forward this past week after I went um last week to three different committees in which everyone except council member Tyler Murray I'm sorry Clark Murray voted no I was disappointed frustrated angry but as I really let it settle in that my city had a city council that could not vote yes on something that has no negative consequence has a lot of positive consequence and costs no money I realized that the deepest emotion that I felt was grief so I'm gonna stand here with my hand on my heart for the rest of my time and ask you to think about what you're saying about you as a city council and what you're saying about this city that you would vote no on this resolution 356 next is Trey Ford well I'll tell you what that's a uh tough public comment to follow powerful uh my name is Trey Ford my address is on file but I do live in the Grand Park Agricultural District and uh I wanted to speak towards the finance committee about uh what I believe was mentioned and I may have misunderstood so anybody can clarify but uh about having a food sovereignty conversation uh after the uh twelve million dollars was approved for Win Dixie.

Um and so I just I saw some good bipartisan work uh as far as getting the best deal possible from Dixie and want to commend uh councilwoman Pittman for having the meeting that Friday and uh council people Peluso uh Gaffney uh Rory Diamond etc for really advocating for the people to get as much as we could out of that deal and I think the Free to Garden Act is something that we can consider stimulating financially uh beyond just approving coding and zoning and things like that um the way that when Dixie was stimulated I believe that our local market managers and farmers should be stimulated as well.

Thank you.

Sir Blake Harper.

Blake Harper information on file something with the phone up here.

You're welcome, I have my time please you took my time away just reset his time.

That's wrong.

Yesterday was Memorial Day the 200 and what it actually was it was set up in early early 20th century.

But it recognizes the sacrifice that men and women gave their lives to make this country what it is today.

So I want to talk about that what it was that makes this country what it is today.

And that's the Constitution.

The Constitution, 17 September 17, 1787.

This is what John last thing Constitution it is the longest form of governance known to mankind.

The average age or the average life of a form of governance is 17 years.

You can do the math about the Constitution.

John Adams, the second president, said the Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.

It is wholly and adequate to the government of others.

Why is that true today as it was back then?

The reality is if you have an immoral people, you're gonna be too busy writing laws and throwing people into jail and so forth.

It's going to be too expensive.

You need to have a moral people, and you need to morality has to be based on common values.

In this country, those values of Judeo-Christian principles are found in the Bible.

John Quincy Adams was the sixth president.

He was the oldest son of John.

The highest glory of the American Revolution was this.

It connected in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government and the principles of Christianity.

Think about that for a minute.

Christianity.

What is it about Christianity makes it so powerful?

The reality of it is the person who makes a decision about your guilt and where you go.

It's not not us as individuals, but as God.

The Bible says vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.

And so we have a system of laws and rules, a system of justice that has lasted many, many years.

And when we throw that all away, we throw away this nation.

And we throw away this greatness that we've contributed to mankind.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Harper.

Next is Vanessa Alvarez.

Following Ms.

Alvarez, it's Etta Ettlinger, Wells Todd, Amina Sharif, and Lou Dawson.

Ms.

Alvarez, are you here?

Vanessa Alvarez, and my address is on file.

I'm here today to demand justice for my friend Connor Collie, and to support resolution 2026-0356.

So firstly, I believe that justice is in the hands of this body before me, and it's in the hands of my fellow community members behind me.

Connor is not just my friend, but he's really a friend to all.

But maybe y'all wouldn't know that, because members of this body are responsible for my friend Connor sitting at the Duval County jail after being targeted and brutalized at the hands of officers, Mikhail Aliaga and Donovan Davis, who were supposedly here to serve and protect us in these very chambers.

Shaking, sorry.

You all should ensure they get fired.

So let me remind you, Connor is a friend to all.

Despite his year-long battle to fight his bogus charges, despite all his efforts to not just fight for those facing a genocide in Palestine, but to fight for people in our community like me, and even people like some of you sitting before me because I mean it when I say he cares for all.

Is what sent him to jail, and your lack of leadership only emboldens the power sick, violent and corrupt officers like Aliaga and Davis.

That said, I'm not just here to vent, but to demand action from you all as elected leaders and from my fellow community members as well.

Although some of you may be responsible for what I consider a historic moment of failure and of political repression from the city of Jacksonville leadership, you can all still do something.

So please attend Connor's sentencing hearing this Thursday at 3 p.m.

And show us that you stand on the right side of history.

Lastly, I don't have the most eloquent words, but I really do uh echo the sentiments of many constituents here and demand that you oppose the building of a new jail in any black neighborhoods in the city, and that you do the right thing by historically redlined neighborhoods and keep our people safe.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Etta Ettlinger.

Etta Ettlinger address on file.

Redlining became illegal in the United States with the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which was part of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act.

This law prohibited discrimination in housing sales, rentals, and financing based on race, religion, national origin, or sex.

These protections were strengthened to ensure compliance by several subsequent laws, which were also enacted.

One of those subsequent laws was the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, which mandates banks to actively help meet the credit needs of the low and moderate income neighborhoods where they operate.

Well, once again, Wells Fargo is in the news just this month.

A federal judge approved a hundred and ten million dollar settlement regarding their lending and hiring practices.

The lawsuit alleged discriminatory, quote unquote, digital redlining, where algorithms disproportionately resulted in lower refinance approval rates for black homeowners, as well as conducting fake interviews for diverse candidates.

My point in bringing this up is that while redlining is legally over in the real world, it still goes on in different forms.

And of course, there's the obvious issues related, as we all know, such as the lack of sidewalks and those homes still not hooked up to the city sewer system and the general lack of disinvestment in the city in the north side or other redlined areas.

Now, after it was acknowledged by the city, as others have said, that harm has been done historically because of redlining, you have the opportunity to vote on whether or not you'll support further harm being done by continuing to approve projects that do not enhance the north side community in any way.

There will be no positive outcome to the community to place the jail on the north side.

Thank you.

Next is Wells Todd.

My name is Wells Todd.

My address is on file, and I'm a member of Take Em Down.

Connor was found guilty due to the city's support of the Zionist monsters that run Israel.

On account of redlining, redlining was instituted under the uh Franklin Delanor Roosevelt administration.

It was put into practice to maintain the poverty structure in predominantly black communities across America.

It was all a package deal.

There was segregation, untold violent destruction that was carried out against the black community, and to add insult to injury, the propaganda that indoctrinated white people to fear and hate African Americans.

The institutional structures of segregation and redlining was American style apartheid.

And it continues today in policing, housing, education, banking, health care, jobs, you name it, it's there.

Now we come to the building of a one billion dollar jail.

Where will it be built?

Will it be built in a red line area?

Some of you say you understand redlining, and I believe you do, but that understanding won't get it in the way that you rule.

Putting a jail in a red line area.

Why?

Because money and the price of land rules, and land is cheaper in red line areas as we all witness with the building of the medical examiner's office in Morgan Brentwood.

Your ancestors locked you into perpetuating economic exploitation.

That is redlining.

Not crossing red line areas off your list of where this jail will be located.

What it does is perpetuate the racist institution that is redlining.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Amina Sharif.

Good afternoon.

Amina Sharif address on file.

The conviction of Connor, this city council has set a precedent.

If you come to City Hall, you take a chance of being arrested for participating in public comment.

It is a double standard that it's okay for you to applaud, stand up, clap fingers, whatever.

But when you participate in public comment, you may be subject to be arrested.

And that is wrong.

The situation with the jail is not the building of the jail.

The problem is you have awarded funds to people that you do not demand to take care of those facilities.

The inmates are not destroying the building.

The building is not hiring enough people to keep that facility clean.

How many jails have been built because they are not being clean properly, sanitized, putting people health in jeopardy?

The other issue is Palestine.

There's enough problems in the world for people to take one side or the other.

If you're gonna speak out for one group, you should do the same for the other.

City council, you got to do better because we are watching, and we will be voting.

Thank you.

I got a new name, Lou.

I came up here because I wanted to bring up about the resolution.

Um a while back, council passed a resolution saying that they acknowledge that redlining took place in those communities, and I think that since they acknowledge that they should make a statement.

One time I came up and I talked about what kind of legacy you're gonna leave for your children.

You got a chance to leave a legacy saying, hey, we acknowledge what wrong took place in the community, and we're going to make sure that that don't happen in that community on our watch again by not putting a jail or saying the resolution that hey, they can't put it in that area.

Another thing that I want to bring up was um 0364.

And one of the points I want to bring out that the community should have, they shouldn't have to file an appeal after the fact that the season is made.

I think the process of that should take place as it does now.

One of my opinions is that it's time to be shortened in favor of the investors and those that's building.

We don't need anything else in favor of them to shorten the process that they got to answer to the people.

We want to stay the same or be approved in another way because another thing that I want to bring up is that a lot of those meetings are in the morning time.

So people don't people that have to work, especially in areas that want to fight against stuff that goes on in your community, they have to be the workers.

So they don't have a chance to really come to those committee meetings to be able to force their opinion.

So the only time they can come is when you see the council come on five o'clock in the evening, some of those can come those times.

So I so I like I said, uh I'm against the I'm against that that one about shortening the time for the zoning and all that kind of stuff, and I'm full.

Y'all not putting the jail or passing the resolution that y'all will not put the jail in those communities, those commit communities.

Now, the other thing before I go out, I'm gonna talk 29 seconds.

All right, all right.

The other thing that I want to bring up.

I came up and I talked about how when I used to walk through Brentwood and as a kid, I seen a hotel with a pool, and it inspired me to be able to take my keys or my wife and family when I got older on vacation.

Not those keys as in those areas.

Now I don't have that same inspiration as they see it outside of those areas to do the same thing.

So y'all have a chance to rectify some of those things and make it better for the community.

But since I only got two seconds, thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir.

Next is Dragon Beloit.

After her, it'll be Monica Gold, Nancy Murray Suttle, Anthony Brown, and Denise Cook.

So come on down.

Okay, which one of these?

Oh, both of them.

Okay, that's cool.

Hi everyone, Dragon Beloit here.

Um, my address is on file, but I'm gonna tell you I live in the Arlington area because that's really important, because part of the thing I'm going to say is I physically cannot leave my neighborhood without a flock camera looking at me.

I physically cannot leave my neighborhood without some private company tracking where I go.

I live on Yellow Pine Drive.

It's a little corner street, it cuts the corner between Justina and Merrill, so a lot of people go down it and they go down it too fast, by the way.

I would really like if we had some speed bumps on Yellow Pine Drive.

Not super related, but that is something I think is your job.

So of this, and because FSCJ is right there, I physically cannot leave my neighborhood without being tracked by a private company.

And that bothers me.

I've come up here and talked about that before.

Um, I just want to remind you, this continues to be a concern.

They continues to be something that bothers me, and there continue to be middle school age kids that walk around here all the time, also being monitored by those cameras all the time.

They are pointing at people's houses.

I don't like it, anyway.

Um, another thing.

Uh Connor Collie, I'm going to give you a brief summary of what happened.

Um, he was convicted for battery uh for pushing the hand of a cop who grabbed him.

If that is legally battery, then there is an incentive for the next time someone gets grabbed by a cop to hit that guy, and that would be pretty bad for reasons I think we all understand.

Legally, we should have a space for someone to go, hey, don't touch me and not get sent to jail for five years for battery.

Just trying to put it in a way that maybe some of you guys will explain, surely some of you are lawyers.

Finally, obviously the north side is not the appropriate place for jail because that's where you guys just stick everything you don't want in your community, right?

That's what happens every time.

They had to pay an exorbitant amount to undo the liquor store damage, drive through liquor store right by school, hilarious.

The medical examiner's office is still there, and it makes the place stink, by the way.

I work there, it sucks.

We all know what's happening, and everybody's here to tell you not to do it, and you're gonna keep doing it.

What do you think happens when people finally lose all faith?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Monica Gold, followed by Nancy Murray Suttle, Anthony Brown, and Denise Cook.

Hi, my name is Monica Gold.

My address is on file.

Um, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee is here this evening to extend our support to resolution to three five six, and we thank council member Pelusa for this proposal.

While the organization has been opposed to the jail in general, part of this reason has been due to questions surrounding the location of the jail and the city's tendency to dump anything that's undesirable on the north side, the north side is home to a medical examiner's office across from an elementary school, drive-through liquor stores that are more accessible than grocery stores.

Drainage so poor that children walk through flooded streets, buzzing with mosquitoes, littered parks, and bus stops that don't even have covered benches.

Well, all of these issues combined with the new jail deplete property value?

They also come at a human cost.

Does city council believe that children on a different side of town deserve thriving parks and well-funded libraries?

Well, while a child on the north side deserves to see examples of death and detention on every corner, does city council understand the historic context of redlining, considering that they passed a resolution acknowledging that it exists in Jacksonville?

Does the city council understand that building a jail on the north side makes you guilty of systemically disenfranchising the black community in the same way that financial institutions and service providers that denied home loans to black residents were guilty of racist and discriminatory practices or organization with members who predominantly reside on the north side went to see a thriving Brentwood, Sherwood Forest, Moncrieve Park, Lake Forest, and Garden City.

We want to see the flourishing of every neighborhood on the north side that has been historically belittled and ignored.

We oppose the building of a jail on the north side or in any historically redlined part of town, and we ask all people of conscience to join us in our demand that no new jail is built in a black neighborhood.

Thank you.

Next is Nancy Myers Settle.

Nancy Murray Settle, address on file.

Um asking you, you've seen this.

This is the red line map from 1937.

And what this resolution zero three five six is asking is do not put the jail in these red areas.

That's it.

This is just Jacksonville 37, 1937.

You have all of Duvall County to look at.

The resolution says do not put them in the red areas.

That's what we're asking for.

From the National Community Investment Coalition website, I take these words.

For decades, starting in the 1930s, low-income and minority communities were intentionally cut off from lending and investment through a system known as redlining.

Today, those same neighborhoods suffer not only from reduced wealth and greater poverty, but from a lower life expectancy and a higher incident of chronic disease.

Housing, economic and social policies should aim to eliminate those risks and undo the unfair burdens of structural racism, both past and present.

Ladies and gentlemen, as civic leaders, you're obliged to formulate and pass policies that do not continue to contribute to the harms of black neighborhoods here in our city.

We must address racial inequalities of mass incarcerations, geographic inequality, and the complex dynamics that continue to this day to disenfranchise blacks in Duval County.

So let's talk about resolution zero three five six.

Honestly, it's a symbolic start for you to pass this resolution resolving to prohibit any new jail facilities, any new jail facilities from going into neighborhoods that have historically been redlined.

We also need to just take a look too at all the money spent on incarceration, and we need to start reducing incarceration.

Let Florida go to civil citation, train officers to de-escalate, mandatory testing for officers on illegal steroids.

Maybe they wouldn't have grabbed Connor over the head over by the neck and threw him over the chair if they knew how to de-escalate and he wouldn't be.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next is Anthony Brown.

My name is Anthony Brown.

My address is on file.

I just want to respond to a gentleman that came up earlier and mentioned the morality of the United States and its foundation.

That foundation was steeped in slavery and exploitation of enslaved Africans.

When the Constitution was ratified around 1789, and then after that, shortly in 1790, there was an immigration act in which it, for the most part, empowered white Protestant males to control the country for up to almost 200 years.

So I want to be clear about that.

And so he got up here and lied to you.

I wanted to straighten it out.

I'm a 20-year veteran, and there's nobody more qualified to speak on this country than a black American.

We are the demographic that has supported this country and fought for this country more than any other demographic.

So I want to clear that up for the gentleman that came up here and lied in your face.

With that said, I just wanted to address the jail situation and redlining as a whole.

You know, once the resolution was passed, 19 yay, zero nay, I was under the impression that we would work with community organizations like ours and other community organizations in the city to try to empower the community, not just be a reactionary force for every time something came up.

These communities are devoid of resources.

They need them yesterday.

Not only does it not need a jail, but it also needs to do something about these food deserts.

It needs to address infrastructure and they need and it needs plenty of beautification.

So if you don't hear anything that we say, I want you to hear that there are organizations that are very serious about working with you moving forward.

We are serious about seeing something take place in our community that's going to address redlining and empower these communities that have been destroyed.

So with that said, we have a meeting June 18th, 1405 West State Street, Red Alliance for Justice.

We meet, we encourage everyone to come out to be a part of the solution and to not be a part of the problem anymore.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next is Denise Cook.

After Ms.

Cook is Samantha Seeres, Shane Trumbore, Jamie Travis Leonard, and LaShonda Holloway.

Hi, my name is Denise Cook.

My address is on file.

I want to say that I'm proud of our community members for showing up.

Um we've stated that there's a movement going on in this city, and you can see that there is.

There's new faces, there's new voices.

I know some of you tune out some of us because we say the same things every meeting, or it seems that way.

So I'm excited that there has been some new voices.

As far as the resolution 2026 0356, I think we all have seen that it makes common sense for it not to be in the redlined areas, but maybe we're not saying, maybe what we should be understanding is that there is a study that we as uh people have paid for, and that study that isn't back yet, and maybe we don't know.

So maybe it's not that this resolution shouldn't be moved forward, maybe it should be put on hold.

You know, is that unreasonable?

Is that unacceptable?

You know, let's put it on hold until we have the data that we need so we can make the decision instead of fighting a ghost.

Um, the other resolution that's or ordinance, uh 2026-0364, you know.

At first glance, it really seems to be taking a lot of rights away from property owners.

Um, no more public hearings, reduce the um feat and notifications for zoning issues, reduce the assessments that are needed.

You know, I have called personally and sent an email, um, multiple emails asking about this so I could look at this intelligently and help support or help support squashing it and taking it away to no avail.

You know, that's the frustration.

Every one of you have been notified about 2026 0356.

Every one of you have been notified about 2026 0364.

The responses have been underwhelming.

And we are trying to work as the community with the body of government that we have in front of us.

So we've got to meet you guys halfway, and you've got to meet us halfway.

I don't understand if if it's as simple as delaying the ordin the resolution, then let's delay it.

Let's just say, okay, we're gonna delay this until the study comes back.

Is that unreasonable?

I appreciate you all.

Have a great night.

Thank you.

Next is Samantha Searies, Samantha Seeres' address on file, as many of the other people spoke about the jail.

I mean, I have a couple of questions.

Have we heard from the consulting firm?

Have you all heard from them?

Because I'm pretty sure they said they were gonna give some ideas.

I've read a couple of articles that, you know, they're gonna have town halls.

Haven't heard of any town halls being held or any community meetings from this consulting group.

So I'm wondering, did they take the 750 and run?

Not sure.

So I want to know what are the proposed locations.

An article I did read said that there were three that they were like kind of considering.

One was the in the north side, of course, because why wouldn't it be?

Which is 21 miles from our courthouse.

You understand a jail and the courthouse are kind of like copacetic.

They need to be kind of close to each other.

Uh almost every in May has to go to a court date at some point because it's a jail, it's not a prison.

They have their first appearance, they have all sorts of things that they have to go to their court dates for.

And having it in the north side doesn't seem logical.

Not only for redlining, I know sometimes that doesn't hit the point that it should, of course, stop doing these things in red line districts, but if that's not appealing to your senses, maybe just think of it as an economic reason why you shouldn't put it in the north side.

The one of the other areas that they said was possibly the Regency Square Mall.

I think that's a great idea.

It's only seven miles from the courthouse.

You can hop on over Arlington.

Real easy access.

Only a 14-minute drive to get the jailhouse people into the courthouse.

And then one that I don't think should be considered at all is just the undeveloped land.

No, do not put it on undeveloped land.

Put it somewhere that is there's already a structure, there's already a dilapidated building, there's already something not being used.

Do not put it on undeveloped land.

You know that we shouldn't be doing the things that we do here where we overdevelop, we don't have the infrastructure.

Put it somewhere it should be.

Put it somewhere logical.

I would love for you guys to mention to the consulting firm that maybe they should actually do something.

That would be great because I would love to go to a community meeting for that.

Um, I would love to give them my opinion for free.

It's real easy for that because it's not that hard.

I don't think that we had to pay $750 for it, but you know, here we are.

So again, don't put it in the north side.

Thank you.

Next is Shane Trembley.

Afternoon, counsel.

My name is Shane Tremble, my address is on file.

As I speak to you all today, one of your constituents, Connor Collie, is sitting in the Duval County jail.

Many more of your constituents are shocked, horrified, livid, and frankly in disbelief.

When I say your constituents, I don't just mean the active members of the community or just the folks who come to these meetings.

The arrest and violent assault of Connor was captured and very very clearly on video, and that video has been seen by thousands of people, both in and out of Jacksonville.

I've shown it to friends, coworkers, family members, and every single one of them had the same response.

Oh, there's no way they're not gonna drop the charges, right?

I cannot tell you how many people had called me after the news of the verdict, wanting an explanation.

How could this happen?

Didn't they see the video?

They can't just do that, right?

I cannot make it make sense for them because it does not make sense.

It does not line up with anyone's understanding of justice.

The only explanation I can offer them is this.

The city's leadership will do everything they can, including using the entirety of the state attorney's office, and what I'm sure is a ridiculous amount of taxpayer dollars to make an example of a constituent they deem to be out of order.

Connor Collie is an innocent man full of integrity who has done nothing wrong.

Sitting in jail right now is incompatible with the idea of a just system.

It is compatible with corruption, collusion, and abuse of power.

This verdict has lit the city of Jacksonville on fire.

There were many that sat idle during the course of the year-long legal battle because, like many of us, they couldn't imagine a world where Connor didn't walk away free, but they just got their wake up call.

To the city council members that see this case with clarity and that know that Connor should not be in the jail right now.

You need to attend his sentencing hearing this Thursday at 3 p.m.

You need to tell the judge that Connor deserves the lightest sentence possible, if not complete dismissal of the charges.

This is your wake-up call.

We are watching you.

What you choose to do in this moment will be remembered by us all.

Free Connor Collie.

Thank you.

Next is Jamie Travis Leonard.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

My address is on file.

So I'm here, as many have come tonight to talk about the jail.

My first big girl job was actually at a criminal defense attorney in this downtown.

And I worked there when we were building the ginormous courthouse that actually impeded my direct access to my uh job.

I was a little upset by that courthouse.

I'll be honest with you.

I still, every time I drive by, I still shake my fist a little in anger at it.

Because it Brian Mill of Monroe Street just killed me.

But when you all approve, and by you all I mean the city council, some of you may have been on there at that time, not all of you, approved that courthouse.

It was with the understanding that that was going to be the hub of the District 4 activity.

So we're now trying to put the jail miles and miles and miles away from the hub of court activity.

You know, the courthouse where these incarcerated individuals have to attend, you know, for simple things like continuances all the time.

If anybody's been into a criminal court, you know what I'm talking about.

So I don't agree with putting on the north side, as some other speakers have.

I like the Regency idea.

It's a more direct route.

Not only does it give a direct route access to the courthouse, it also gives it to the PMB and all the other infrastructure that has been set up downtown in relation to our court system.

Do you all know how many attorneys are down here?

An insurmountable amount, okay?

Bell bonds.

Do you all remember when the state attorney's office was on bay?

Like, do you remember these things?

And what did they do?

They moved it a few streets over.

So now you're trying to take something that has an integral part logistically into something that is built downtown and move it into the middle of nowhere.

Don't do that.

Like, I don't think you all care about redlining.

I'm just gonna be honest.

Like, I do support the 26356 resolution.

I don't think you care.

So I'm trying to present you information from a logistical standpoint in hopes that maybe you will care about that.

So don't move it to the north side.

Don't move it to any red line areas.

Keep it in a spot where the logistics makes sense.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next is LaShonda Holloway.

How about Gareth Lopez?

Got it.

Alright, after Mr.

Lopez, it'll be Sarah Posey, then Avery Holbrook, and Feedlix Bonavent.

Hey, my name is uh Gary Yopies.

My address is on file.

Um I'm here to show support for one of your constituents.

Um, all your constituents, really, because you fail to realize that that is your job.

Um, but the one specific constituent I'm here to represent is a friend, a colleague, and that's Connor Collie.

Because all of you know Connor is currently in jail facing years uh in prison simply for expressing his first amendment right.

This case is one of the most blatant cases of political repression, and you all know it.

But what you all fail to realize is the more you repress, the more we express.

We express our right to call you out as a failure to society, as a failure to justice, and to call you out for your support in the genocide in Gaza.

All most of you care about is your inside deals and filling your pockets while the workers of Jacksonville suffer.

Connor is one of the nicest and most compassionate people I've ever met.

He would spend his free time feeding the homeless, giving them the opportunity to tell their story to someone.

You say we're a country under God, and we prayed Jesus was before we started this meeting.

That's the most Jesus-like act I've ever seen anyone do.

He's also one of the most outspoken people in calling out your injustices, and that's precisely why he's locked up on bogus charges.

That's exactly why there's no doubt in my mind.

This is a case of political repression, and he is now a political prisoner.

To make it clear that this is political repression, is the fact that he was remanded by the judge even when the state was okay with him not.

Connor was ripped over a row of chairs by a known domestic violence offender for simply reactively touching his hand.

Tell me in what world and in what definition that is justice.

I call for all of you, but especially those of you who see through this, just show up to Connor's sentence hearing on Thursday, 3 p.m.

And express to the judge that Connor deserves time served.

We the constituents will not back down and in keeping you all in check, and I'll say it again.

The more you repress, the more we express.

Since I got 15 seconds less left, how about we just don't build a jail and invest in the community so people won't have to commit crimes when they don't know when their next meal is coming from?

How about we build infrastructure so they can get to a job?

This is absolutely ridiculous.

The final four speakers, Sarah Posey, Avery Holbrook, Felix Bonaventure, and John Nooney.

That was awesome.

My name is Sarah Posey, my address is on file.

I'm here today with the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, and I need to share my deepest frustration and disappointment with the council on behalf of myself and my friend Connor, who is not here tonight because he's in jail.

I'm here to talk about the way that city council makes a habit of abandoning and betraying their constituents.

In 2023, the council stated that our city unequivocally stands with the state of Israel and then completely ignored the community when we demanded that you rescind it because not only is it dangerously tone deaf, but it does not represent the people of our city.

I used to think that you were turning a blind eye to the horrors of the way that Palestinians are being treated, with the starving of children, the bombing of neighborhoods, and also the countless testimonies of Palestinian men, women, and non-Palestinian activists being arrested, tortured, filmed, sexually assaulted, and murdered, all with your support.

I thought you weren't paying attention, but now I'm forced to reckon with the fact that you are not blind to it, but this is exactly what you quote unequivocally support.

Speaking against this complicity is what Connor is sitting in jail for.

You allowed your constituents to get brutalized in your chambers a year ago.

Not one of you have publicly spoken out against the abuse you witnessed that day.

You went as far as to allow your fellow council member to mock the victims of this brutality on their social media.

And when I attempted to quote one of the council members' tweets here in public comment, I was penalized for language.

You should not be holding your constituents to a higher standard than your own council.

You betray your constituents by continuing to employ the officer who's conveniently not in here today, who has a history of domestic violence, who grabbed Connor by the neck and threw him over those chairs back there.

After seeing the body cam footage for myself, I am just increasingly horrified by the violence you guys allowed to happen.

You've abandoned and betrayed your community in Brentwood with this freaking morgue.

You rushed to pass an emergency ordinance approving the location of this Morgan Brentwood without taking any time at all to hear from the community, and you've since had the opportunity to change this reality.

As concerned community members have been showing up consistently to speak out against it, and you ignore them.

You're trying to do the same thing with this jail, it's tone-deaf, it's racist, and it's a shame.

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but a lot of people are learning about city council here in Jacks because of these instances, and this is the impression that you're greeting them with.

This is the legacy that you're committing to.

Connor and Leah's commitment to speaking out for Palestine is the only thing that distinguishes their behavior from everyone else who was clapping that day exactly a year ago.

Sentencing is scheduled for Connor this Thursday at 3 p.m.

and for Leah on Friday at 10 a.m.

And if you believe in the rights.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next is Avery Holbrook.

My name is On File.

I'm representing Jacksonville's students for Democratic Society.

Last year, Connor Collie was wrongfully assaulted by the cops.

He was thrown over the chairs, and you guys allowed it to happen.

You watched it, you didn't care at all.

Now he is facing over-a-potentially over five years in prison for him being assaulted.

And that is just one of the worst miscarriages of justice I've ever heard of.

And I know most of you guys don't care.

You're all on your phones, you're looking at your little notebooks, whatever.

This is not how a council should act.

You have to be adults, not children distracted by your little tablets.

It's not okay.

Secondly, the subject of the jail.

It is very blatantly racist to put it on a historically redlined area where it will only harm that community.

It's not gonna bring anything of value to them.

You just want to fill your pockets with money.

You don't care how bloody your money is, as long as it is yours.

That's all I gotta say.

Go to hell.

Next is Felix Bonaventure.

My name is Felix von Ventry, and my address is on file.

I am also here representing Jacksonville students for a democratic society.

Um the first thing I want to say tonight is that everyone on the city council should be ashamed of themselves.

You watched last year while Connor Collie was thrown around by the neck, arrested.

Now he's facing a five years in jail for what?

He clapped in this room.

Big deal.

Y'all did nothing.

Not when it was happening, not over the past year, when his case was put together, not during last week's sham of a trial.

You value a ridiculous notion of propriety over any notion of justice.

People come into this room, every council meeting to use their First Amendment rights and talk about their concerns for this community.

At best, they're blatantly disrespected by half the council taking a break and the other half visibly not paying attention to us.

And at worst, they get brutalized and arrested by the cops.

You want our manners, you want our respect.

We don't get any of that in return.

What kind what kind of example does that set for the community?

What kind of leadership are we are we supposed to expect from you when that is how you treat us in the council meetings?

You are helping destroy an innocent man's life with your apathy.

It is disgusting behavior, and as I said, you should all be ashamed of yourselves.

The second thing I want to say is about the jail.

And there's not much I can say that has not already been said better by other people, so I will just say this.

If you want the jail, if you want that new jail so bad, put it in your own neighborhood, and then we'll see how how well you like it.

We will all see.

It is wrong, it is racist.

I can't believe that it's a question of whether we should not put it, you know, in majority black historic historically redlined neighborhoods when it would bring nothing but negative consequences.

But here we are.

I guess that's a question that we have to ask.

You should all be ashamed.

Thank you.

John Nooney.

Hello, I am John Philanthropic, Jelly Roll, good boy, resiliency nooney, Ocho Trace 5, Spaskum Road, and I'm in District 4, CPAC 3, Weselowski, Raymond Day, School Board, District 3, Cindy Pearson, Charter School, Public School, Field Trip Park on Pottsburg Creek, Governor DeSantis, Council President, Nick Howland, Vice President, Joe Carlucci, of the Jacksonville City Council, Pardon Nooney.

2024 0107, that's J U.

That was a 3.5 million direct contract.

2024 0325, University of Florida septic tank study.

Now we pull the tape on that one.

Okay, and in the agenda, item 161.

You can go to it for those that have it.

2026 0450, page 57 of 66.

You know, I'm wearing my FWC.

You know, it's a playoffs and wildlife commission.

Well, another acronym.

You know, fishing with courts.

Again, pardon Nooney.

You go to the legislation, it's agenda item 161, authorize the mayor's designee and the corporate secretary to execute and deliver a third amendment to the city funding agreement between the city and JU to modify the preconditions to forgiveness of the 1.2 and a half million forgivable loan related to the establishment of the JU College of Law.

Sawyer requested the mayor.

You know, it's a neighborhood's finance, but not in rules.

You know, I can't attack I have an active JSO trespass citation with J U.

It's lifetime.

It's real.

It's real.

You know, I mean, give me a turn.

I mean, I'll tell you.

So I hope that you reconsider where it's not in a private but a true public place where we can all celebrate the leadership that will tell the world to visit Jacksonville.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you, sir.

The following people did not wish to speak.

Joseph Masio George, Dr.

Shane George, Willie Cook Jr., Catherine Finn, Patricia Dodson, Viette Lavender, and Herford Bean.

And that concludes our speakers.

Thank you, Mr.

Florida.

All right, that brings us to public hearings pursuant to 166-163.

Mr.

Clerk, please read the bills.

2026 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 363, 364, 375, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 416, 418.

2026, 124, 125, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 29, 299, and 311.

These public hearings are all open.

Thank you.

Item 46, 2026, 0300.

Two speaker cards, Evette Williams, or Jovette, I think Eva, and followed by McBurn Williams.

Either of you here.

Hello.

My name is Jovette Williams, 3271 Racket Court, Jacksonville, Florida, 32277.

I am co-owner of Smoke in the City Barbecue, uh, and a nurse of 41 years.

Smoking the City Barbecue is not just a place, uh food truck to eat, it is an atmosphere, it's an environment.

It's peaceful.

I don't know how many times people have stopped by before my husband starts work, afterwards, or while we're just sitting on the property to say, can I sit down?

Can I talk to you for a moment?

And being a nurse, I know that mental health issues are real.

They exist, and the fact that you can just you feel like you have a place that you can just sit and vent your feelings and speak with someone is important.

We have been members of the Arlington community for over 35 years.

My husband and I together, and it's a community to us.

We give back to our community.

We hold Mother's Day events, Halloween events, and not just that.

A little girl came up to my husband and said, How much for a dinner for me and my brother?

And he looked at her because she was so cute the way she said.

He said, Oh, I'll just give it to you.

She came back the next day with a note that said, Thank you.

Thank you for feeding us.

I know you have a business, but my mother has been laid off due to the government shutdown, and she doesn't have any food stamps.

And we just want to ask you one more time.

Could you feed us?

Of course we did.

But the fact that she felt comfortable enough in our community to ask us to feed her means we're doing something right.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you, ma'am.

And Mr.

Williams.

Greetings to the body.

Greetings to the body.

My name is Melvin Williams.

I am part owner of Smoking and City BBQ.

We also are part owners of the property that we own, which we purchase, 2449 University Boulevard North, as well as 2427 University North.

And we need your address too, sir.

My address on file is 3271 Rocket Court, Jacksonville, Florida.

Thank you.

I would like to say thank you for having us.

And we would like to say we are Arlington.

We have been living in Arlington for over 35 years.

We have our house in Arlington.

We spend our money in Arlington.

I go to Ace Hardware Daily.

Wendigsey, Walmart.

Over 21 years we've been doing feed the needed community downtown, out of our pockets.

We've been doing Halloween parties for the little kids at our house for 19 years.

But the biggest thing I want to talk about is COVID.

COVID is over now, but we forgot about it.

I would never forget about it because my father died from COVID.

But during COVID, the city of Jacksonville came to 2449 and asked for help from us.

And you are seeing those packets that we have receipts from doing meals, some meals 750, sometimes a thousand, depending on what they needed for senior citizens.

That was one of the greatest things that we was able to do.

People was able to eat, we was able to provide for the for the senior generation, and people was able to come outside because we had a full truck that was outside.

Something different.

They do it in St.

Augustine.

You have Harry's.

Everybody go to.

All I'm asking the body to do, we was there eight years.

There's no way we was there eight years, and then all of a sudden zoning comes and say that we should not be there.

We ask that you look at our package.

We ask that you look at that we are residents of Arlington, and we ask that you give us the favor.

Thank you.

Mr.

or Mrs.

Williams, if you want to, Ken Amero, your councilman, district councilman is right through that door.

He'd like to chat with you.

Yes.

Alright, no further speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

All right.

Item 47, 2026 0301, no speaker cards.

Hearings closed.

Item 48, 2026 0302, one speaker card, Travis Moss questions only.

Public hearings closed.

Item 49, 2026 0303, and item 50, 2026 0304, no speaker cards.

These public hearings are both closed.

Item 51, 2026, 0305.

Uh one speaker car, Samantha Ceres.

She does not wish to speak.

Public hearings closed.

Item 52, 2026 0306, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 53, 2026, 0363.

We've got a couple of speaker cards.

First is Samantha Sears.

Followed by John Uny, who does not wish to speak.

And Keith Langberg, who does not wish to speak.

All of whom oppose.

Samantha series address on pile.

Um, I just wanted to say that I oppose this ordinance, and I want you all to really take into consideration what is being put forth.

You know, I'm worried that we're not reading fully into this in the terms.

I just got the paperwork because you have to request it now because you know the website is under construction for the ADA compliance.

So, so you know, it's a lot going on in that one, and I didn't I put I think I put not to speak for 364, so I oppose both.

I just want to say that.

Thank you.

No further speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 54 is 2026 0364.

We had five speaker cards, none of whom wish to speak, but all opposed.

John Nooney, Leo Dawson, Riley Dawson, Samantha Searies, Jamie Travis Leonard, and Keith Lanenberg.

Public hearings closed.

Alright, item 55, 2026 0375, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 56, 2026 0377, one speaker card, John Nooney.

On the bill, Mr.

Nooney.

Hello.

I am John J.

Nooney.

Jacksonville City Council resolution 2023 0819, 8356 Baskum Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216, City Council District 4, CPAC 3, School Board District 3.

I mean, this is sweeping stuff here.

It's neighborhoods finance, but it's not in waterways or rules.

And uh requiring a comprehensive report, and you know, uh stakeholder input, interagency coordination.

Uh, I mean, this is gonna be massive stuff.

You know, right off the top, I just think of the Northeast Florida Regional Council.

I think I'll find the Florida Inland Navigation District.

I think of the Duvall County Public Schools 2025 0867.

Think about the bill, Mr.

Nooney.

Keep going.

Hey, well, interagency coordination, report structures and format, public.

I mean, this is big stuff, and then you got the guy, you know, Reingle, I think you're gonna be leaving.

But uh, but anyway, you know, I just want and then of course you got Wendy Kahn, you know, capital improvement projects.

So uh I just wanted to uh at least be on the record that I mean this is big stuff.

Thank you.

Wait there, Mr.

Noone, for the speaker card.

Public hearings closed.

I have past President Carlucci in the queue.

He said too much.

Oh, okay.

Um item 57, 2026 0378, one speaker card, John Nooney.

Hello, I am John Philanthropic, Jelly Roll, good boy resiliency Nooney.

8356 Baskom Road, Jacksville, Florida, 32216.

I'm in City Council District 4, CPAC 3 School Board District 3.

Still seeking a pardon.

Really need that one.

But uh 2026 0378.

You know, here's definitions.

You know, we're gonna have a special magistrate.

I know I'm gonna need one, but uh so again, I mean, this is sweeping stuff.

Uh that's introduced by council member Pittman.

You know, just the neighborhoods and rules.

You know, it should be point of order, please.

It should be going to everything.

Mr.

Carlo, you call for a point of order.

What's your point of order?

Ms.

President.

Um, I've known Mr.

Nooney for a long time.

He's a friend.

You can stop his clock.

He's been a friend.

Mr.

Nooney.

Uh I have to tell you.

I think you have to state your point of order, which is to the rule that you're objecting on.

That is the point of order.

So please state your point of order.

You're speaking to Mr.

Nooney.

What's your point of order?

If you'll give me a second, I will get to that, or I'll quit trying to help you in this council.

Mr.

Nooney, you've got to speak to the bill, sir.

There are people in this audience that you take so much time up every meeting.

It comes to 30 to 40 minutes.

There are people in this audience here that have people home that need them home because they're sick or they're caregivers.

Now I know that because they've spoken to me.

And we've not, I don't want to just get up here, Miss Mr.

President.

Just be cold.

I see where you're going.

Go ahead.

Okay.

I'm trying, though, to appeal to his better nature of his angels.

And up your game, or don't get up, because you take up sometimes 30 to 40 minutes of our meetings.

I've been your friend for a long time.

I have taken up for you.

I have given I have sponsored a resolution commending you.

But I gotta tell you, there are people here who have reason to be home right now.

And when you get up, so my point of order is if you don't start speaking to the bill with something constructive, I hate to do it, but I'm gonna get up and I'm gonna speak to that every time.

So we can get out of here, these folks can get out of here at a reasonable hour.

Now I'm speaking up for them.

I have spoken up for you time and time and time again.

Well, somebody's got to speak up for them, and I'm doing that.

You're not speaking to the bill.

I think you need to sit down, sir.

That's my point of order.

Taken.

All right, Mr.

Anuni, you got a minute 59.

Yeah, I do, and uh, okay, well, you know, when you okay, here again you have definitions.

I mean, we are redoing everything.

This isn't just the only bill, there's a whole bunch of stuff, and uh so anyway, no, I can it it and just to let you know, no, I if anything, you know, you would hope that there'd be more reporting with the legislation that you, the 19 members of the Jacksonville City Council, have and do and impose on everyone in Jacksonville.

So uh anyway, uh I'll just hold off because I filled out some other ones.

This next one, agenda item 61.

You gotta stay on that one, Mr.

Nooney if you're done.

Okay, I am done.

All right, but I'll be ready.

No more speaker cards, Mr.

President.

Public hearings closed number 58, 2026, 0379, item 59, 2026 0380, item 60, 2026 0381.

No speaker cards, these public hearings are all closed.

Item 61, 2026 0382.

One speaker, John Nooney.

Hello, I am John J.

Nooney, Jacksonville City Council Resolution 2023 0819.

I'm in City Council District 4, CPAC Planning District 3 School Board, District 3, 8356 Baskum Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 3216.

Now, okay, here's an appropriating 45,000 in the fund balance from the environmental protection fund to provide funding for educational outreach activities as well as food and beverage travel supplies, training dues, and membership fees for the Jackson Environmental Protection Board members and staff.

I mean that's wow, you know, and that's you know anybody ever go to an EPB point of order meeting.

Ms.

Carlucci stage point of order.

You're not speaking to the bill, you're just reading the bill off, Mr.

Nooney.

Well, please.

If you have to do it.

Well, this is a neighbor, it's a neighborhood.

You don't have the floor finance, you know, it's not in waterways.

I have the floor, sir.

You do not have the floor right now.

Okay.

You are not speaking to the bill, John.

You're just not.

I request that until he gets to where he's speaking to the bill, that he has a seat.

And I think that's in fairness to everybody here concerned.

This has been going on year after year after year.

And I have been so kind, but I'm up to it.

And now I hear from people in the audience.

Have your seen?

I still have two minutes.

No, I think you've been called out on a point of order for not sticking to the bill, so uh the public hearings closed.

All right.

Uh item 62, 2026 0383, one speaker card.

Don One.

All right.

Sorry, ma'am.

Only one person at the podium at a time.

One person at the podium at a time.

One person at the podium at the time.

Your time is started, Mr.

Nooney.

Wow.

Name and address.

All right, I'm okay.

Uh John J.

Nooney.

Jacksonville City Council Resolution 2023 0819, 83 56, Bascombe Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216.

You know, it's off Mills.

It's Denon Street.

Around, you know, it backs up the uh all right.

Look, okay, this one amend the powers and duties of the DIA.

And again, it's an average rules finance, not in order was.

And this is again big stuff.

We are rearranging everything.

Here you have the CRA.

And we're the to impose and collect regulatory fees and choice.

Mr.

Noone, you have to do more than just read the bill.

You have to speak to it.

Mr.

Carlucci, recognize I'm only reading the bill.

John, you're only reading the bill, sir.

Well, like my friend, you need to do more research on the bill, up your game, and then come speak to us.

But you're not addressing the bill.

You're not, you're just reading it, sir.

And I have tried to speak with you in private about this.

It does no good.

But I this has got to stop.

So you have the request of special speaker take a seat on the future.

So downtown.

I got a minute forty-two.

I mean stick to the bill.

Okay.

Say something substantive toward the bill, Mr.

Nooney.

Well, this is big sweeping stuff.

All right.

All right, uh, item 63, 2020.

This public hearing is closed.

Item 63, 2026, 0384.

No speaker cards.

That's public hearings closed.

Move the emergency.

Got a motion, second on the emergency.

All in vary the emergency signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay to emergency carries.

So the bills and emergency.

Got a motion and second on the bill as an emergency.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

13 years, zero nays.

You've approved 2026-0384 as an emergency.

Item 64, 2026, 0385, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 65, 2026, 0386.

One speaker card.

Uh does not wish to speak.

Nancy Murray Suttle.

Public hearings closed.

Item 66, 2026 0387.

Got uh two speaker cards.

First is Bobby O'Connor, followed by Jamie Travis Leonard.

My name is Bobby O'Connor.

My name is on file.

I would like very much for you all to support this and continue the millage rate.

Our schools are very important.

We need to keep them.

They're having budget issues already.

We have to continue this village rate, and I'm asking you to please do that.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next is Jamie Travis Leonard.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Jimmy Travis Leonard.

My address is on file.

I support 26387.

This uh resolution is a to put the uh one mil tax renewal on the ballot for voters to vote on.

In 2022, when it was originally put on four voters, they overwhelmingly supported it.

I expect that we'll have a similar outcome.

Helped to uh support teacher and staff pay as well as athletic programs.

We've got 12 playgrounds because of it, 11 bleachers, 8 tracks, 6 turf fields, 6 scoreboards, and five tennis courts.

So on top of that, we also have been able to help supplement our arts programs.

So 10 high school band uniforms, 32 lighting and sound upgrades, and two recording studios.

Basically, this referendum ensures that we are supporting our teachers in a time of very uncomfortable economic stability.

So I hope that you uh vote to put this on for the voters in November.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Two other speakers did not wish to speak.

Uh Samantha Sears and Alex Hazen both support.

Public hearings closed.

Item uh 67 2026 0388.

Uh two speaker cards, Samantha Siries does not wish to speak, she opposes, and John Nooney does not wish to speak, he also opposes.

Public hearings closed.

Item 68 2026 0389.

Got one speaker card.

Uh John Nooney.

Hello.

I am John J.

Nooney.

Jacksonville City Council resolution 2023 0819.

8356, Baskum Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216.

City Council District 4 CPAC 3.

Swizelowski Raymond Day.

School Board District 3, Cindy Pearson.

Now this one.

I mean, this again.

We're going to amend public parking.

We're going to expand the role.

The Office of Public Party to include the management of the micro mobility.

Now, this is dockless mobility unit.

You know, when I hear that, you know, I'm thinking of our waterways.

Now it's in rules to you, but it's not neighborhoods or waterways or finance.

A dockless mobility.

And we're gonna create a program administrator position.

And provide for future expansion of the program outside the current boundary.

So again, you know, you got the sponsors, you got people that were on waterways.

I mean, again, sweeping stuff.

You know, we want to be telling the world visit Jacksonville.

But you have to open up our waterways.

All right, thank you for listening.

All right, thank you, sir.

Item 69.

Sorry, go ahead.

Public hearings closed.

Item 69, 2026 0390.

No speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 70, 2026, 0391.

One speaker.

John Nooney.

Hello, I am John J.

Nooney, name and addresses on file.

All right, 2026 0391.

Now here again, this is massive stuff.

This is between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the City.

Provide for oversight by the Office of Administrative Services Department.

EQD.

Yeah, this is brand new.

You know, I reached out to them they're only been around six months.

You know, and uh so anyway, it's neighborhoods to you, but not rules finance again, waterways.

Are you gonna speak to the bill, sir?

Point of order.

Point of order.

Well, point of order called by past president Carlucci.

We're we're not getting any information except what's already written in front of us, and it's uh not adding to the contribution uh for the council or for the audience uh that I know of and I suggest that the speaker have a seat.

Uh he's he's out of order, and that's what I would recommend, Mr.

President.

I'll be the bad guy.

He needs to sit down.

All right.

You've been told by past President Carlucci that you're out of order.

Have a seat, sir.

Public hearing is closed.

No further speakers.

Alright, moving on.

A new authority.

You need to close that public hearing.

Uh, I'll close it again.

Public hearing is closed.

Uh item seventy one, 2026, 0392.

No speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Move the emergency.

Got a motion second on the emergency.

All in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying a emergency carries?

Move the bill's emergency.

Got a motion second on the bill as an emergency.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

15 yes, 09s.

By your action, you approve 2026-0392 as an emergency.

Item seven two, twenty twenty-six, zero three nine three, and item seventy-three, twenty twenty-six, zero three nine four, no speaker cards.

These public hearings both closed.

Item 74, 2026, 0395, no speaker card.

Public hearings closed.

Additional public hearing will be 6926.

Item 75, 2026, 0396, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 76, 2026, 0397, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Move the emergency.

All in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any post saying nay?

The emergency carries.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion second on the amendment.

All in favor of the amendment signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Any posts say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as an emergency as amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as an emergency as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

15 yes, 090s.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0397 as an emergency as amended.

Item 77, 2026, 0398.

Item 78, 2026, 0416, and item 79, 2026, 0418.

No speaker cards.

These items are public hearing, excuse me, are all closed.

We've already handled item 80.

Item 81, 2026, 0124.

One speaker card, Samantha Searies.

She does not wish to speak.

Two speaker cards.

Samantha Sears does not wish to speak.

She opposes, and uh Jamie Travis Leonard does want to speak.

The public hearing will be continued to 728-26.

Is Ms.

Leonard not here?

Not speaking, got it.

Uh but they both oppose.

Okay.

Again, the public hearing will be continued to 728-26.

Mr.

Floor Leader.

Item 83, 2026, 0289.

One speaker card does not wish to speak, Samantha Sears.

She opposes.

Public hearings closed.

Public hearing will be 6926.

Item 84, 2026, 0290.

Got two speaker cards.

First is uh Penny Buckland McGregor.

Mrs.

McGregor, are you here?

Alright, she's left.

And Vernon Williams.

You hear Mr.

Williams?

Okay.

They both oppose.

Public hearings closed.

Additional public hearing will be 6926.

Item 85, 2026, 0291.

And item 86, 2026, 292, no speaker cards.

Public hearings both closed.

They both have additional public hearings on 6926.

Item 87, 2026, 0293.

Item 88, 2026, 0294.

Item 89, 2026, 0295, no speaker cards.

These public hearings are all closed.

Additional public hearings will be on 6926 for all of them.

Item 90, 2026, 0296.

One speaker card, Travis Moss.

You still here?

Alright.

Public hearings closed.

Public hearing will be 6926.

Item 91, 2026, 0297, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Initial public hearing will be 6926.

Item 92, 2026, 0298, two speaker cards.

Latavia Harris and Samantha Sears.

Samantha Series is not uh supported and does not wish to speak.

Latavia Harris, are you here?

She's not here.

She's not here.

Public hearing is closed.

There's no public hearing on 6926.

All right.

On to item 93, 2026, 0299.

Two speaker cards.

Latavia Harris, she opposes, and Samantha Ceres.

Did you want to speak?

Nope.

Also opposes.

Alright, public careers closed.

District public hearing will be 6926.

Item 94, 2026 031.

Got uh Nancy Murray Suttle.

Are you here?

She opposes, pardon me, she supports.

And then uh three cards that do not wish to speak.

Samantha Sears, Jamie Travis Leonard, and Keith Langenberg all uh part of me.

The first two support, the last one does not support.

All right, the public is closed.

Digital public hearing will be 6926.

Alright, that moves us on to third reading of resolutions on page 35.

Item 95, 2026 0356.

Move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

Councilmember Pelusa, you recognize.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um the bill before us right now.

Um has did not make it through three committees.

I understand why.

But you just heard this evening from a number of your constituents and the people who come before this body very often, very concerned about where this jail might be placed.

I understand, and I know if Council Member Lannon was here, he would be speaking to the fact that, hey, he's the jail liaison, he's been in coordination with the sheriff's office, the mayor's office, and with um the consultant, and it's very much the intention not to be building in any of the redlined areas.

So if it's not the intention already, then let's make sure we just pass this resolution and make it so.

This resolution is meant to be a reflection of where this body's values are.

Three years ago, we voted in favor of a resolution, 190 to ensure that we would not only apologize for the sins of redlining, but that we pursue policy goals to make sure that we don't go back to any of those policies in the past where we built in redlined areas.

One of my concerns is if we build an annex or a smaller facility on top of the larger facility, because I do think it will be built in probably a sprawled-out area.

I believe that's the intent.

We talked about that in the jail committee, we know that.

But there could be smaller facilities that they do need to build closer to the courthouse.

And I want to make sure they won't be in Durkeyville or in La Villa or in one of the red line communities in Brentwood.

The expectation for the people of Brentwood was that they would not see a medical examiner's office.

And we've heard a lot about that since it was built.

This is meant to try to get ahead of that and ensure that the policy of this body is to say no, we will not be building a jail or any facility like the jail in these red line communities.

You've heard from the constituents numbers of times.

Uh I'm just trying to do something that I thought was really tempered down and and acceptable to this body.

So I ask that we voted up, uh, and I do appreciate your efforts.

Alright, President Salem, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to make a couple points because I initiated this whole jail debate in the summer of 2023.

Um the jail, as many of you know, is gonna be a several hundred-acre proposal with bringing in probably the P farm, juveniles, and then having all the services that inmates need mental health, health care, workforce development, all those things.

Uh I heard two things tonight that intrigued me.

Um they are coming up with three proposals, this study group that we've hired.

One was to delay this debate until we have the three sites.

I thought that was I I forgot who mentioned it.

Thought it was a brilliant point.

We don't know where it's gonna be yet, and it would seem to have this debate when we have the three sites, and there'll be meeting with the community, the firm we've hired will be having that debate within the community.

That's the time to have this debate.

Number two, I've heard the comment that jail needs to be close to the courthouse.

That's not true anymore.

After COVID, where all the judges, and my son's a judge, so I watched all this.

Uh things were done electronically, and and there's not as much in-court appearances as there used to be.

The younger judges prefer that.

It's really a lot of the older judges that like to bring the inmate in for the court appearance.

So the world has changed, and the way we handle courts have changed, and I'm sure that will go into this debate of where to cite this particular facility.

So I voted against it.

I don't think it's appropriate to make these decisions until we have those three sites.

I will voted against it today, but I think the more prudent approach would be to have this debate once we have the sites, and if if the uh sponsor would move such a such a proposal, I think that would uh be most appropriate.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I support the resolution, and I'm gonna tell you why.

This city has a bad history, as probably most urban cities do of redlining, and when we think of redlining, we oftentimes think of banking, uh, mortgage lending, and so forth.

But what red lighting has to do with everything from street lights, drainage, curb and gutter, water and sewing line, cable lines, school construction quality, and the list goes on, and it has been going on in Jacksonville for decades, so I'm not supporting uh I'm supporting this because I won't I've been meeting with community members about redlining.

I don't know if any of them are here anymore, but there's three or four in particular, and some others, but I can't, I can't vote for something that doesn't draw some kind of line in the sand to protect areas where there has been lines drawn in the sand that didn't protect them.

I'm an at-large council member, so I have to look at every section of this city of Jacksonville, put aside party and put aside uh all the other factors except for the facts.

When I first started hearing people come up and talking about redlining, I have to admit, I was not fully informed, but as I began to listen to my friends, Warren Jones, Matt Glover, other people who have such institutional memory of what's happened in this community, and then when I go back and I research and I look and I reread A Quiet Revolution and other books on Jacksonville's history, we have had a problem with redlining, and now we have an opportunity to make a statement that no more.

So that's why I'm supporting this.

I've known about it, but not like I do now.

So I I urge everybody here, whether your district or whether you're at large to support this resolution, it's just a resolution, but at least it makes a daggum statement.

I urge you support.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Clerk Mary.

Thank you, President.

Um, do the president to Ms.

Depopulus.

Would it be appropriate at this time to make a motion to defer?

Uh the the motion on the floor currently is to move the bill.

So if that is withdrawn without objection, um then that you could move to postpone.

You would have to pick a date certain to postpone it to in your in your motion.

All right, thank you so much for that.

So the um through the chair to Ms.

Popula, so the motion to withdraw the moving of this bill, it needs to be done by home.

Myself or the president.

Is there any particular person who needs to make that um motion?

Through uh the president to council member Clark Murray.

So the withdrawal rule states that a bill may be withdrawn by the introducer at any time before amendment or putting to a vote with the consent of the majority of council members present, and thereafter, a bill may be withdrawn only upon a recommendation of a committee of reference, and it was not recommended for withdrawal from committee.

So unless Mr.

Peluso wants to recommend to propose a withdrawal through a motion, it would be in order for you to offer the postponement or to take an action on the bill as moved.

Thank you so much for that.

Um to the president too, Mr.

Peluso.

I know that we did discuss this in neighborhoods.

I presented it to you and you did decline to withdraw.

I'm asking once again that you consider it for the very reasons of several people who came forward today and talked about the fact that the bill is premature.

One council member mentioned it as well that it's premature and it's premature because it precedes the report that we're expecting in January of next year regarding the jail.

So I think it would be more appropriate.

And once again, the withdrawal will allow you to bring it back prior to.

If we vote on it, that means you can't bring the bill back until after.

You can speak to the chair to Ms.

Peluso.

Through the president to uh Councilman Clark Murray.

I just don't know why we keep delaying the time.

This is to help the consultant know areas where they should not be pursuing and looking at this moment and know what our intentions are and where our thoughts are as a body earlier and before that report comes out.

So to me, it's to per yeah, to provide guardrails.

I understand the intention, and I think Councilmember Salem had incredibly good points.

Um, but I do think that we need to make sure that we are saying in one loud voice early and often to the consultants, hey, stay out of these areas.

So I I would prefer not to withdraw.

Okay.

Well, thank you so much for that.

Um through the president to the committee members, we I'm sorry, to the council.

We know that um essentially it's not supported at this time, and I would not like to see it go down in flames, but it is going to go down in flames, as you know.

And so I think it is good.

Um, it's good common sense to withdraw it.

But thank you, Chair.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Diamond.

Call the question.

Question's been called.

Everyone raise your hand if you want to call the question.

Question being called has failed.

Councilmember Pelusa, the second time.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, no, to the to council president uh to council member Salem.

I do appreciate your where your head is at.

I think that you spoke pretty plainly about what this is, and I appreciate that.

Uh, but I do think that deferral and moving this does not does not do the job.

It continues to keep the can down the road.

We have people who have showed up time and again over the past several years talking about this issue.

Councilmember Carlucci, past President Carlucci is right.

We need to put a line in the sand now.

We've seen this a lot in this city.

We've said to these communities before, don't worry, it's not gonna happen again.

Don't worry, why would it?

And then it does, and then something else happens.

And so I'm even concerned.

We talked about a little bit about uh uh food deserts earlier.

I've had members of this body say, yep, we'll talk about food deserts moving forward.

We need to make sure we do that.

I'm afraid that by the time we get to January and past January, we're gonna be focused on a lot of other stuff, and we're not gonna be getting back to this.

We have the opportunity now, and and I think this again, this is a very tempered measure.

That's that's why I find it so odd that there's so much opposition to it, because it's just this is meant to be pretty pretty easy.

Um so I ask that we vote it up tonight.

Just be done with it.

Shows members of the community that we are listening, and it does the right thing.

Thank you.

Councilman Amaro for the first time.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, during committee, I voted against this uh resolution, but I stated very emphatically on the record that I will not support any kind of jail being built in any of Jacksonville's black communities.

I just don't think it belongs there.

Um nevertheless, this legislation does nothing to protect the community.

Um it's premature, it panders the weaknesses, communities are looking for strong economic development and strong leadership.

They don't need to have their hopes built up on a bad policy that doesn't protect them.

And for those reasons, I I just don't can't find myself coming to support this.

I think it's more of a miscarriage of justice than justice.

Thank you.

Past President Freeman.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

I had the pleasure of watching the debate uh during committee, and and I'm counting to 11, there are 19 of us, so we obviously know that this is gonna fail.

Uh so through the president uh to this body, I will simply say that I heard Councilmember Lennon's request.

Um, numerous times we've had council members who are liaisons to various bodies and boards, and they've come to us with requests, and we've honored that.

And now when it comes to an issue like this, that's going to put everyone on the record.

That's what this is basically trying to do.

Those types of games I'm not afraid of.

I do trust Councilmember Lenin, and if anybody knows him like we all do, he's a numbers, a dollars and cents guy.

He doesn't play anything else.

So if he asks me, I trust him, I trust that the right thing's gonna be done.

Uh, and so I will not be supporting this as well, and I will go on this record as well for whatever reason we want to continue to go forward with this as opposed to uh withdrawing it.

Thank you.

All right, so no one else in the queue, please open the bag.

Dr.

Johnson slipped in there.

You recognize it.

Is your birthday?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I want to jump in real quick.

I appreciate this, and I'm looking at this issue, and I have to say, while I am probably going to vote for this, I do know it's going to fail.

I mean, you can look at it and read the tea leaves and see in all of the committees that this has been discussed, it's probably gonna fail.

I would hope that conventional wisdom would take tell us that if we deferred it and just held on to it for a moment, maybe we could find some way to find a workable solution.

Um, I will say, however, like Councilman Amaro, uh, I am not gonna support it going in in a community that is densely African American.

I don't think it's the right thing.

I do believe I've said it on record before, having served and chaired one of the subcommittees for the jail committee, uh, that it needs to be out with P farm is.

That's my belief, although it's on the north side, everybody's not happy about that.

But it seems that the infrastructure would support this kind of facility.

Uh, I would hope before we take this vote, because as Councilwoman Clark Murray said so eloquently earlier, before we take this vote, if this does not pass, it's gonna be a year before this can come back, and I just don't think that this sends the right message, nor is it fully baited.

So I'm gonna put that on the record, and I I hope that we would at least try to jump in and say, let's slow roll this and take our time.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Councilmember Diamond.

Uh yeah, since I didn't get to speak on this, I said this in committee.

I think this is just performative garbage, but I but I do absolutely agree with Kennemaro.

Uh look, I'm not gonna support this going into historically backed neighborhood either.

And I think people need to know that a lot of people in the count council feel that way.

Um, it feels like we just jam everything we don't like into the same neighborhood, so I won't be part of that either.

Thanks.

Councilmember Gaffney Jr.

Thank you through the chair.

I just want to let you guys know that district eight is predominantly African-American community.

So um, I know it's been a lot of talk, but I was going by the P farm.

I'm against it.

I'm gonna support this bill tonight.

I think we do need to have guardrails.

I am concerned to come in district eight.

Um I understand that district have the land of proximity, but I'm opposed to it.

I'm gonna support this because we do need some guardrails in place.

And I'm gonna go ahead and let you guys know now, I'm a bit no for it coming out to the north side.

So I'm getting everybody on notice now.

I'm a bit no.

So airport, river city, PCAM park, by first coast, no more Chit filets, no more jails, and no more apartment complex.

So I just want to put that on the record right now.

Thank you, Councilmember Gaffney.

Before we go to Mr.

Pelusoza, for the third time, I'll just add that.

Just some just in context to the study.

So the gentlemen that are in charge of doing the study are are making the rounds.

They're available for any council members to meet.

I met with them, I told them the things that we're all saying here that we don't want it to be in a neighborhood.

We don't want it to affect someone's, you know, property values and things like that.

But we have to find a place for it.

So I encourage all of you to schedule that meeting and let your thoughts and uh your feelings on where the jail should be.

Uh tell it directly to the consultants who are doing the study.

Let them know, and then they'll come back with their recommendations and we can take it from there.

But I will recognize you for the third time.

Give them a minute.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

For one, this is not performative.

This is literally what we keep hearing from our constituents.

Much of my community.

Much of my district is in this redlined area.

We literally passed a resolution three years ago that we discussed that we don't want to do things in these areas.

I've now heard multiple members of this body say, Yeah, I commit to that.

Then pass this resolution.

This resolution is the will of the body telling this consultant and all who listen, hey yeah, we're we don't intend to build any part of this facility in a redlined area.

It's literally what we talked about in the past multiple times.

If you were so against it before, you shouldn't have voted for the last resolution.

It's this is not some kind of gimmick, nor is it meant to put anyone on the record.

We could have talked about deferral or other things in different committees.

We could have done notice meetings.

We're here now.

If your will truly is that you don't want it to be put in one of these communities, then vote this up.

No other speakers, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Five yes, twelve nays.

By your action, 2026-0356 is failed.

Moving on to a third reading of ordinances, item 96, 2026, 0315.

Move the amendment.

I have a motion second on the amendment.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bills amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0315 as amended.

Item 97, 2026, 0317.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion second on the amendment.

Councilmember Miller on the amendment.

He's on all the amendment.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed to say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bills amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

Colonel Miller, you recognize.

Real quick, Mr.

President, I'd like to be added as co-sponsor.

Thank you very much.

All right.

No one else is in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0317 as amended.

Item 98, 2026, 0321.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion second on the amendment.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay.

The amendment carries.

So the bill's amended.

Got a motion second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

17 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0321.

We already passed item 99.

Item 100, 2026 0324.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion and second on the amendment.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, say nay.

The amendment carries.

Move the bills amended.

Got a motion second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0328.

Item 101, 2026, 0331.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion, second on the amendment.

No one's in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bills amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0331.

Item 102, 2026, 0333.

Move the amendment.

Got a motion, second only amendment.

No one in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed to say nay?

The amendment carries.

The bill's amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

There is no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 yes, zero nays.

By your action you've approved 2026-0333.

Item 103, 2026, 0336.

Move the rules amendment.

Got a motion and second on the rules amendment.

No one in the queue.

All in favor of the rules amendment.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay.

The rules amendment has been passed.

Bill's amended.

Motion and second on the bill as amended.

I would make everyone aware that our esteemed president of Edward Waters, Dr.

Faison, is here.

We also have a large group of students who held tight with us all night.

Some uh folks from student government, Darren Armstrong, Kennedy Richardson, Marquise Humphrey, Jenai, and Mitchell are all here in support of this legislation.

Thank you for being involved and showing us that uh you're here to represent.

We also have our chairman of the board of Everett Wars University, uh Bishop Marvin Xander.

So welcome everyone.

Thanks for your patience.

You had newbie with you.

All he had to do is ask to get moved forward and y'all would have been out of here, but he didn't do it.

So there's no one else in the queue, so open the ballot record your vote.

He just nuked his free beer.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0336.

Congrats, Edub.

We've already done item 104.

Moving on to item 105, 2026 0362.

Do you have a four amendment for this?

Got it.

I need the uh rules chair to come take the gavel.

Mr.

President, you recognize.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Rules Chair.

I rise to uh declare conflict, uh potential conflict with this legislation and abstain from the bill.

As my employer, the boys and girls clubs in northeast Florida serves youth at a various uh level of um ages and services.

So uh we're not sure what the RP is gonna say, but there's a chance that we could apply for those funds.

So that being said, I will abstain uh so there will be no conflict.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um we also have another abstention, I believe.

Uh councilwoman Jacobi Pittman, please.

I stand to um also declare perhaps maybe a conflict because uh the Clara White mission is my employer, and that may be a conflict.

The paperwork is already been signed, so I just wanted to let you know.

Thank you.

All right, move the floor amendment.

No, or we just move the bill.

Okay, move the bill.

We have a motion and second on the bill.

Seeing no one in the queue, please open the ballot, record your vote.

14 yes, one nay, two abstentions.

By your action, you approve 2026-0362.

And I'll recognize Fast President Freeman, who uh did the work of this committee.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President, and through to the president to Councilmember Diamond, thank you as well for staying consistent uh as you always do.

Um but this there were many questions asked, and I was watching and not able to answer them.

Um but one thank you for the trust.

Uh Councilman Salin, you mentioned uh the concern about this being reoccurring dollars.

Uh Mr.

Everett was going to be here tonight, but unfortunately he had a family situation come up, so he couldn't, and I shared that I would.

Uh this is obviously the council president's uh legacy is initiative, and one of the things that we built into this was a process that is going to transcend multiple budgets.

So this 5.2 million will carry over into next year, will not all be spent this year, so groups will still be able to apply for it next year.

It's not gonna all be spent in the following year.

So now the council president will have three years worth of a process.

Money can always be added during our budgetary process, but the mechanism is gonna be in place and funding will be in place for the next three years uh to keep this moving forward.

So I just wanted to make sure that I put that out there.

This is not giving more money to any particular entity.

This is more money for an initiative.

That entity is just the group that is administering it.

Um if there are any other questions offline, I guess.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Pass President.

Ms.

Floor Lear.

All right, we're on page 42.

Second reading of resolutions.

Mr.

Clerk.

2026, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 414, 415, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, and 376.

All right.

There are no public participation cards, so that will take us to item one ten on page 43.

Move the substitute.

All right.

We've got a motion, second on the substitute.

All in favor of the substitute.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay?

The substitute has been passed.

Move the bill, substituted.

Got a motion, second on the bill as substituted.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

17 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0403.

All right, that takes us to the introduction of new ordinances of first readings.

Mr.

Clerk.

He doesn't do those.

All right.

Then we're just gonna keep on skipping through.

Hold on here.

I'll find it.

I just wanted to keep you on your toes, Jason.

What page is that?

Got it.

So we are on page 63.

Item 173 on page 63, 2026, 0462, move the emergency.

I've got a motion second on the emergency.

All in favor of the emergency, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying a emergency passes.

All right.

We have no public participation cards, so move the bill as an emergency.

All right, we've got to move.

Pardon me, we have a floor amendment.

I'll move on.

Right.

We got a motion and second on the floor amendment.

Yes, we got a sec second for Mr.

Arius.

Uh sure.

Uh Mary's gonna explain the amendment.

Thank you.

You have a you have a couple of floor amendments coming up that are all technical um corrections to bills that were filed as in and out emergencies on 2026 462.

The floor amendment corrects the bill title to reflect that the Office of Economic Development will have oversight of the agreement described in the bill.

And it places the revised marketing funding agreement between the city and the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce Inc.

revised on file to include missing pages and correct scriveners' errors.

Alrighty.

That is the floor amendment.

All in favor of the floor amendment, significant by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay, floor amendment passes.

We've got a motion, second on the bill as an emergency as amended.

Councilman Arius, you're recognized.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

Very quick.

I'm just gonna speak on this one, but obviously it pertains to the other two bills coming up.

Uh this is legislation that we passed um months ago into last year.

Uh the chambers were not funded, um for whatever reason it just took long.

And then um essentially there was a news article that came out saying that they're not gonna get funded by the administration.

Uh, we had conversations that have public notice meetings already.

I spoke to the Senator Yarbrough as well, talk about this and the fact that we could indefund them.

The reason uh for the nature of the emergency is because it's been already going on half a year that we passed the legislation to actually fund them.

So um no new dollars coming out of this, uh, nothing crazy, it's just getting them their money that's been old for about six months now.

And I just hope that you guys uh support this.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

No one else in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, one may by your action you've approved 2026-0462.

Mike, he's got a dead mic he's on item one seventy five twenty twenty six-0464 hold on one sec uh move the emergency we've got a motion we need a second got a second on the emergency all in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye aye any opposed say nay the emergency carries move the bills emergency floor move he said move the floor amendment and we got a second from council member areas we don't need an explanation it's basically the same as the last one all in favor of the floor amendment signify by saying aye aye and opposed say nay the floor amendment has been passed no no we do not have any public participation cards or a working mark mic for the floor leader but move the bill as an emergency and we have uh motion need a second on the bill as an emergency thank you as an emergency as amended no one's in the queue please open the ball record your vote 16 yes one nay by your action you've approved 2026-0464 item 176 2026 0465 move the emergency we've got a motion and second by council member areas on the emergency all in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye aye and post saying the emergency carries we have no public participation so we move the floor amendment got a motion second on the floor amendment it's the same as the last two no one's in the queue all in favor of the amendment signified by saying aye aye any post saying nay the amendment carries move the bill as an emergency as amended we've got a motion and a second on the bill as emergency as amended no one's in the queue please open the ballot record your vote got it 16 yes one nay by your action you've approved 2026-0465 and our last item 178 uh on page sixty six twenty twenty five zero eight seven two I believe Mr.

Salem wants to make a motion yes I call on Pass President Salem thank you Mr.

President I hopefully this will be the last time that I will ask for a postponement as uh most of you know uh general counsel Michael Fackled put out an opinion on the appointment bill it came out Sunday afternoon with a Monday holiday I didn't think it was appropriate to vote on that tonight not giving all of you a chance to read it study it ask Mr.

Packler some questions if need be plus he had a family event tonight uh a son graduating I think and I didn't want to uh put him in a bad position of not being here so for that reason I'm postponing it for two weeks from today and we will have the debate and vote on that at that time second so I encourage you to take the look at the opinion it's well written and he is uh he's frankly changed his mind and supports the appointments all right can you just clarify for the record the date that you would like to postpone too Miss Mary can you help me there?

June 9th.

All right the motion is to postpone until June 9th we have a second from um our floor leader I believe or Councilmember Aries I did hear a second um so yeah let's vote we had Mr.

Carlucci but he went off so I don't know if he wants to talk or not all right so let's call on past president Carlucci.

Yeah I uh thought I would just try to clear up one thing I I would uh I'm not sure that Mr.

Facler supports the appointments I think what he may support is that the appointments can be changed I think that's what he's supporting no that's not what you said uh go back listen to the by critical Ron but that's that's what you that's that's what I heard you say okay so I want to make clear that is he uh he doesn't support the appointments he supports the fact that the appointments can be made um so uh I think we need to think about that as an issue.

But the other thing we need to think about between now and two weeks is why.

What's the problem?

What is the problem we're fixing here?

And if this needs to be fixed, then what other appointments need to be fixed.

And I just think we're we're we're we're putting our hand over in the mayor's office, investigating this, investigating that, and we're trying to change this.

I think consolidation was set up pretty well, and there comes a point in time we ought to just let it work and quit fiddling with it, and I just want to say that as a precursor to when we come up.

I do appreciate Councilman Salem uh being patient and letting this come up in its due time after we've had a chance to look at it.

But um, but I I just have no idea why we're pursuing that.

It's it's just another uh infringement that may be okay with the charter, but it's it's just out of line.

All right, Dr.

Salem.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I didn't intend to get into debate tonight, but I will articulate several reasons two weeks from tonight why I think this is important, and uh Mr.

Facler did change his opinion on the fact that we can make these appointments.

If I didn't make that clear, let me make it clear one more time.

We can make these appointments, and I will, and I'm sure many others will articulate why I think this is important, and I'm sure many of you believe what I believe.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

The postponement is a ballot vote, so please open the ballot and record your vote.

17 years, zero days.

By your action, you postponed 2025 0872 to June 9th.

That's a wrap, sir.

That is all.

I'd like to thank my floor leader for stepping in today and helping us um get through.

Thank you so much.

Uh, another acknowledgement of the happy birthday for Dr.

Johnson.

Any announcements before we adjourn and send it to the chaplain?

Councilwoman Pittman, do you have an announcement?

Come on, Mr.

President.

I know she probably didn't want me to do this, but you know, today is your special day.

So let's give Mary a big round of applause.

We appreciate you coming to work on your birthday, okay.

So thank you.

Not yet.

Oh, happy birthday here.

Mary's about the birthday to you.

All right.

Well, I'm gonna call on you again.

I didn't even call on you that time.

You just took the floor.

Okay.

Well, happy birthday to you.

We have a few more.

Again, uh Dr.

Johnson, thank you for being here.

And your birthday as well and your special day, and then Rebecca Hagan to uh yesterday was her birthday, and then we have um Dr.

Salem Nikki.

It was her birthday on uh actually coming up June 4th.

So we have Mary and then we have Steve.

Is he here today?

Oh man, y'all let's witness.

Hey, wish Steve a happy birthday.

It was his birthday on the 24th.

So, we've already had the song sang, and I appreciate you.

So we're gonna have to practice.

I'm gonna get you and Chris together and you.

I don't know if you heard, but there was some harmony going on.

Oh, yeah, little homin, a bit hominy, okay.

You ready, uh Councilman Johnson, too.

Get you can get some of this too.

Ken, you sang too.

Don't you sing in the choir?

Oh, okay.

Just checking, just checking.

Alright, that's all I have.

Thank you.

All right, all right.

We have one more announcement, then we'll do uh roll call and we'll adjourn to prayer, Mr.

Boylan.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Well, I recognize Councilman Johnson on his 50th birthday.

My wife and I celebrate our 51st anniversary on Sunday.

Love Susan.

I won't even say it.

That's too easy.

All right, so we're gonna go ahead and do roll call.

Seventeen present.

Thank you very much.

Mr.

Chaplin, take us home, we are adjourned.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Once again, uh, Kim, congratulations on your retirement.

Uh, Mary, a little bit red faced back there, but again.

Happy birthday to you.

And uh, thank you guys for participating in what I call the democratic process tonight.