The Jacksonville City Council met on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 5:02 p.m. for a regular meeting. The meeting included multiple legislative actions, public comment, and debate on key issues such as a proposed jail location, a Culinary Institute of America campus, and a resolution to prohibit jails in historically redlined neighborhoods. Several bills were approved, while the redlining resolution failed.
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.