All right, I'm being told we officially have a quorum.

All right, good evening, everybody.

I'm calling to order the City of Jacksonville City Council meeting for Tuesday, June 9th, 2026.

It is 5 p.m.

on the dot.

I am your president, presiding officer Kevin Carico.

And we are officially starting a meeting, Mr.

Floor Leader.

How's that sound?

Very good, Mr.

President.

Our first order of business is the invocation and pledge of allegiance.

Please recognize our council chaplain, Councilmember Kennemar.

Sounds off.

Thank you, Mr.

Floor Leader.

Tonight our invocation is being delivered by Eddie Hatcher, a Jacksonville native, a graduate of Rebalt Senior High School, or as the principal would say, Rebote.

He earned a Master of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

And he's a retired U.S.

Army veteran with more than 20 years of honorable service.

Eddie currently serves as a community pastor at Chets Creek Church's Hodges Campus, where he's passionate about helping people grow in their faith and connect with their community.

He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Renee Hatcher for 42 years.

Together, they're the proud parents of two children, Antonio and Olycia.

Please receive Pastor Eddie Hatcher.

Thank you, Councilman.

God's word says to us that we would acknowledge him in all his ways, and his response to us would be your direct our path.

And so that's what we want to do this evening as we uh move forward with our meeting.

So let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we do thank you for this amazing privilege of gathering this evening for this opportunity to serve the people of Jacksonville.

We ask for your wisdom, your guidance, and discernment upon every council member, city leader, and public servant represented here.

Grant them clarity of decision making, integrity, and leadership, and a sincere commitment to the welfare of this fine city.

Help them to work together with respect, unity, and a shared desire to promote justice, peace, and prosperity throughout our city.

We pray for the families here in Jacksonville, the businesses, the schools, the first responders, our policemen, our neighborhoods, and our communities of Jacksonville.

May your hand of protection rest upon our community, and may your grace guide us toward solutions that strengthen and uplift all who call to this city home.

Lord bless the meeting and the work that will be accomplished here tonight.

May it be conducted with wisdom and a spirit of service of others.

In your holy name we pray.

Amen, and amen.

Amen.

Pledge allegiance.

Do you have any announcements?

Uh one announcement.

Uh I am noticing a meeting tomorrow.

It's going to be at 4 o'clock, two weeks from today, prior to our last council meeting of the year to do our award ceremony.

A lot of times that takes up a lot of time in the evening.

So I'm just gonna bump the meeting uh ahead or bump it back in hours so we can get started, give out the awards, and celebrate some accomplishments of community leaders and community members and some of the members of this body.

So we'll have that meeting at four o'clock uh right before the council meeting in two weeks.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Next up is approval of the minutes from the regular council meeting of May 26th.

I move the approval.

I think I'm gonna call up a roll call first, and then we'll get those approved.

All right, roll call.

16 present.

All right, Mr.

Florida.

All right.

Now I'm back at the right spot.

I move the approval of the minutes from the regular council meeting of May 26th.

We've got a motion and a second by Councilmember Arius.

All in favor of the meeting minutes, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay, the minutes are approved.

Mr.

President, we have six communications from the mayor's office and others.

Would you like them read or filed with legislative services?

We will get them filed away.

Very well, sir.

We have two presentations tonight.

The first is by council member Kennemaro, a resolution honoring and commending Tim Cost for his service as president of Jacksonville University and congratulating him on his new role as Chancellor of Jacksonville University.

Mr.

Teal, please read the resolution.

Resolution 2026 409.

Tim Cost has served as president of Jacksonville University since 2013, becoming the first alumnus to lead the university, guiding it through an era of transformation and growth.

During his tenure, President Cost led JU through significant expansion, growing the institution from three colleges, five schools, and two institutes to five colleges, nine schools, and three institutes, along with the introduction of new in-demand major fields of study, including speech language pathology, clinical mental health counseling, occupational therapy, accelerated nursing, business analytics, engineering, law, data science, AI, cybersecurity, and robotics.

In 2022, President Cost oversaw the establishment and launch of the Jacksonville University College of Law, which expanded access to legal education and the development of the legal workforce in Northeast Florida, and whose first graduating class achieved the second highest bar passage rate in the state.

President Cost advanced the partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to create the region's first four-year medical school scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.

Under President Cost's leadership, Jacksonville University strengthened its financial standing and philanthropic support by increasing the endowment by more than 50%, leading the investment of 100 million dollars into the university's campus, completing the ASPIRE campaign that raised more than 120 million dollars, launching the Florida Epic program to support STEAM education, regional economic investment and job creation, and spearheading the university's historic 175 million future-made comprehensive campaign.

Since Tim Cost became president of Jacksonville University, the university has consistently raked ranked as a premier institution for students' return on investments and outcomes, with the university being selected as one of America's best colleges by U.S.

News and World Report and named one of the top 500 universities in the country by Forbes magazine.

After 14 years of distinguished service as president of Jacksonville University, Tim Cost will transition to serve as Chancellor of JU, where he will focus on partnerships, fundraising, alumni, community, and government relations to advance the university's mis the university's mission.

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

The City Council hereby honors and commends Tim Cost for his exemplary and invaluable leadership as president of Jacksonville University and his lasting contributions to the city.

The City Council congratulates Mr.

Cost on his appointment as chancellor to Jacksonville University and offers its best wishes for his success in this new role.

As I stand here and reflect, a couple of thoughts come to mind that while some men use words to inform, Tim uses his words to transform.

While some men seek affirmation before achievement, Tim is always sought achievement before affirmation.

He's just that kind of individual.

He he collaborates, he looks for where he can be part of, how he can make a difference.

When he came to JU as president, one thing he said, JU will be integrated and not isolated.

And today JU is one of the most catalytic transformative force in the Arlington community, and it's all because of the work of Tim Cost.

So I'm glad to present this to him.

Ron Salem, you have represented the area as well, if you want to say something.

Thank you, Councilman.

Um, I met Tim probably 12, 15 years ago when I got on the Arlington CRA, and uh, my seven years here on the council, we've worked very closely together.

He's become a great friend, and as I've said, publicly many times, I shudder to think where the Arlington area would be without Tim Cost.

He has been the catalyst for all the development that is occurring out there, and we are very grateful that he continues to serve us at JU.

So thank you, Tim.

Uh thank you to uh Councilman Salem and uh for these kind words today.

Thank you.

To uh Council President Carico, Council Vice President Allen, a lot of friends sitting around this room today.

Um, I have a lot of thanks to give on behalf of our university for the belief you've placed in Jacksonville University.

We've been here ninety-two years.

We've come before this group a number of times for help, and you have never let us down.

Most recently, my only item today was when we decided we would try to build a college of law.

And Councilman Omaro, you will remember we asked for a few million dollars, and 14 students came in four years ago.

This August, the university's college of law will double and will be 215 students in just four years.

It'll be the second ranked again University College of Law in the state of Florida, number 14th in the country.

We could not have done it without this body.

So we will continue over there to try to be a positive, relevant force for the economy and for the students and their families, and we'll be back hopefully soon to talk about youth sportsplexes and other things that can help Arlington.

But I have great thanks to this body, the entire city of Jacksonville.

Thank you and good evening.

Thank you very much.

There uh, I've got Tim's wife, Stephanie, uh, to come up.

She has been uh very important part of this journey as well.

All right.

Well, they pose for a picture.

I do have uh council member in the queue that wishes to speak, so you'll have to just listen with your back turn.

Council member uh Freeman, past president.

Would you like to say a few words to President Cost?

Thank you.

Uh thank you, uh Mr.

President to the President to President Cost.

One uh good to see you, and thank you so much uh for your service uh to the community to the university and to our city.

Um what was laid on my heart to share with you is that the impact that you made will create ripples that will last for generations.

Um I for one have been one that has come and visited and sat on that couch and talked life, talk politics at times, talk business at times, talk life, and I want to thank you for that, and I want to thank you for sticking around.

Um, you could be doing so many other things right now.

You've lived a very successful life to this point, and you're still choosing to serve here in this community.

And I want to thank you.

And I want to end with a fun fact that uh many of you all here, I'm sure you know that he is a baseball official as well.

And I believe it was at a lefty uh pitcher, and and had some type of an accomplishment at JU, uh, many, many.

I won't say I won't add the third many, but uh so a few years ago, um, and that was one of the draws that I had with him initially when I was sending kids there.

So thank you for that, and then your vision with lacrosse and what's happening with that board across our city and our state.

You're just such a visionary, so thank you so much for your leadership.

Thank you very much.

All right, Councilwoman.

Councilwoman Pittman.

To the chair and Dr.

Coss.

I just wanted to personally thank you because I have a personal relationship with you.

My son just graduated, I think, which most of you all know with a double major from JU.

But the first day I met you riding on the golf course, Cart, um, in the school, you knew the students' names.

You don't find too many presidents that knows each of the students' names.

And I was impressed with that, impressed with how you take the suggestions and recommendations from the students, and you pour into them and you make the initiatives that they want on that campus and to make it their own.

So I just want to say thank you for giving my son Winston an opportunity and to even take some of your holiday pictures um as well, and I really appreciate that how you poured not only to him, to the many um students that have graduated from JU.

Thank you.

All right, no other speakers.

So I'll just add my congratulations for a great career being uh on the Mount Rushmore leaders here in the uh Jacksonville area, sir.

You've certainly made an impact on my life as a as a mentor and as a friend.

So thank you again for coming down and uh enjoy your retirement.

Thank you.

All right.

Our second presentation this evening is by council member Jacoby Pitt and Pittman honoring the honorable Henry Lee Adams Jr.

for his distinguished legal career, historic accomplishments, and lifelong contributions to the city of Jacksonville.

Mr.

Teal, please read the resolution.

Resolution 2026 404.

The honorable Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr.

was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and raised in the historic Eastside community, where his early life and experiences helped shape his commitment to justice, service, and community.

Judge Adams, a proud graduate of Matthew Gilbert High School, earned his Bachelor of Sciences degree from in political science from Florida AM University, received his jurisdictorate from Howard University School of Law in 1969, and married his high school sweetheart Elaine while on their lunch break at the Duval County Courthouse.

Judge Adams began his legal career serving the people of Jacksonville through the Duval County Legal Aid Association as a public defender and then in private practice, demonstrating a dedication to equal just equal access to justice.

In October 1979, under the leadership of Governor Bob Graham, Judge Adams made history as the first African American judge appointed to the Fourth Judicial Circuit, marking a transformative moment in the judicial landscape of Northeast Florida.

Judge Adams continued to break barriers throughout his career, becoming the first African-American attorney invited to integrate an all-white Jacksonville law firm, the first African American judge in Florida to preside over a white on black homicide case, and ultimately the first African American appointed as a U.S.

district judge in Florida when nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

As a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, and later as chief judge, Judge Adams has exemplified fairness, integrity, and dedication to the rule of law, earning a widespread respect across the legal profession and in the broader community.

Beyond the bench, Judge Adams has served as president of the DW Perkins Bar Association and has contributed his leadership to organizations such as communities and schools and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, demonstrating his enduring commitment to education, mentorship, and community advancement.

Judge Adams' life and legacy represent perseverance, excellence, and the courage to break down barriers, opening doors for future generations of legal professionals and public servants in Jacksonville and across the nation.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the council of the city of Jacksonville.

The City Council hereby honors the honorable Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr.

for his trailblazing legal career.

The City Council extends appreciation to Judge Adams for his decades of outstanding service on the bench and for serving as an inspiration to future generations.

You are a trailblazer.

Come on up here.

Come on up here.

Way before your time, and you were never afraid to do what you did.

You are deserving of this resolution, and I'm glad your family is here with you.

I know you lost your wife recently, but I know she would hear she was here, she'll be standing right beside you.

And we want to let you know that we are proud of everything that you have done in this community.

And you know what they said.

Good folks come from where?

East Jacksonville.

East Jacksonville.

They call it Addis.

So tonight we want to let you know that.

Um we appreciate what you have done in the past and you continue to pour and give to this community.

And we all just wanted to let you know and stand with you to let you know and give you roses while you're here.

And we love you.

I just want to thank you for thank you for this opportunity.

Uh which was uh basically from the city of Jackson Bill a few years ago.

But uh I thank you for that to give me the opportunity to do what I've done.

So welcome.

Mr.

President, while they're taking some pictures, I want to recognize tonight's pages.

We have Lingston Bartley and Victoria Grissom.

They are both homeschooled students here in our community.

Thank you for serving with us tonight.

All right, and before we move on, while they're taking the picture, let me acknowledge we do have DCPS Superintendent Christopher Berner, the doctor's in the house, as well as the uh speaker pro temp for the Florida House Wyman Duggan is back there, I think.

So welcome both of you and glad to have you.

All right, I'll call on the vice president, President Elect Howland.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I also rise to declare ex parte communications.

I met with Miss Nancy Powell to speak about this bill on Memorial Day and Memorial Park, and then uh we also got received an email from her.

We also spoke with Cindy Tremor yesterday, June 8th at 3 p.m.

about the bill.

We'll make sure they're filed.

Thank you.

All right, that seems to be it.

I move the amendment to deny appeal.

Got a motion second on the amendment to deny the appeal.

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

Aye.

Any posts say nay?

The amendment carries.

I move the bill as amended to deny appeal.

We have a motion second on the bill as amended to deny the appeal.

So if you want to vote with the LUZ committee, then you would vote yes.

Is that correct?

All right, open the ballot, record your vote.

16 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you voted to amend to deny 2026 0345.

I'm too 2026 274.

I move the amendment.

Have a motion second on the amendment.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye, any opposed saying nay, the amendment carries.

With the bill as amended.

Got a motion second on the bill as amended.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, zero nays.

Your action you've approved 2026-0274.

I'm three.

I move the amendment.

I have a motion second on the amendment.

I have no one in the queue.

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

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The amendment carries.

I have a motion second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot or record your vote.

16 yay, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0300.

Item 4, 2026, 301.

I move the amendment.

We have got a motion, second all the amendments.

No one in the queue.

All in favor of the amendment.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The amendment carries.

Read the bill as amended.

I have a motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0301.

Item 5, 2026, 302.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

Councilwoman Clark Murray, you recognize.

Thank you.

I rise to declare ex parte.

I spoke with Travis Moss, the applicant on May 26.

Here during the city.

Yes, during the city council meeting.

And we discussed how he proposed to use the existing building.

And I did express my concerns about a smoke shop.

Moss said that he grew up in the Woodstock community and was considering some type of coffee shop.

And the ex parte has been filed with legislative services.

All right.

Thank you for that.

No other speakers.

We have a motion second on the bill, so open the ballot, record your vote.

16 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0302.

And before we move on, school board member Cindy Pearson is in the house.

I see you out there.

Sorry, it's like a sea of people out there.

I missed you.

When I was giving my shout outs, any other school board members, former city council members, elected officials in the building.

I think we're good.

Mr.

Floor Leader.

Item 6, 2026, 303.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0303.

Item 7, 2026, 305.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

There's no speakers in the queue.

Let's open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0305.

Item eight, 2026-306.

I move the bill.

I have a motion second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue, please open the ballot, record your vote.

16 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0306.

Item nine, 2026-310.

Move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue, please open the ballot.

16 yay, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0310.

Item 10, 2026, 375.

I move the bill.

Got a motion second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

16 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0375.

We're now on page nine to take up the consent agenda.

Colleagues, if you wish to be added as a co-sponsor in any item, please reach out to legislative services as council rules prohibit items from being pulled for this reason.

Mr.

Teal, would you please read the bills?

2026 379 380 388 389 391 394 398 399 400 401 402 415 470 and 471.

I move approval of the consent agenda.

Got a motion and second only approval of the consent agenda.

No one's in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, 0 nays.

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

Mr.

President, we're now going to go all the way to page 34 and take up item 76, 2026, 414.

I move the amendment.

Got a motion, second on the amendment.

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

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

Sixteen yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0414.

Mr.

President, please recommend uh recognize Councilmember Freeman.

Alright, the vice chair of the rules committee, past President Freeman, you are recognized.

Uh thank you, uh, Mr.

President.

And if the following individuals are here, if you please rise so we can acknowledge you, uh, Ms.

Carmen Martinez, uh, Robin Sinazal, Scott Thomas, Jeff Youngblood, Heather Rios, and C.

Douglas Lane.

Want to thank you all for putting yourselves forward and volunteering at the city.

If we can give them a round of applause, thank you.

Colleagues, we're now going to go to page 36 and take up item 78.

That's item number 2026 335.

I move the amendment.

We've 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 posts say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

We've got a motion and a second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

16 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0335.

Councilman Arias.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

So colleagues, uh, last week I had actually two uh community meetings, one regarding the school board measure uh that we took a vote on last week, and the other one was for ACPS.

I'll talk about the one on Friday that I had here at City Hall.

Um, last Tuesday on finance, we decided to defer a measure that would actually send the the mill extension to the ballot in November.

Um I was one of the ones that decided to defer it as well, too.

I voted in favor of that because I wanted more time for clarification.

Last time this was voted on was years before me, and so consulting with OGC, they said yes, we have enough time uh to extend it should we need to for another two weeks or a month, whatever the case is.

Regardless of the fact, I made my calls, I met with individuals, and then on Friday I held a public notice meeting.

A meeting where so many school board members, I'm gonna just call them out right now.

Uh, uh Ricardo, Pearson, Bulduk, residents from our community, uh school superintendent, educators, power professionals, and staff, do all teachers united, Mr.

Meek.

Um, so many people were there in that room, and I took pictures of it, it was a packed house.

A couple things came out of it.

Number one, my heart really was moved.

Um, it was an emotional meeting.

Uh for me, realistically, the biggest thing was that I wanted to know exactly what would this mean should we take it to November?

The answers were clear, it was already all clarified.

Uh one of the things that really stood out to me the most was the fact that at the end of the day, we are representing our community.

The community that voted us, but at the end of the day, they also have a right.

They have a right to vote.

Let's not take that away from them.

That's one thing that other countries don't have the right to do, but we do have that measure here.

So tonight I'm gonna ask Mr.

President, if you don't mind, I would like to make a motion to discharge uh ordinance number 2026 0387 from neighborhoods rules and finance committee, uh pursuant to council rule 2.205.

And I'm looking for a second.

All right, thank you for that.

Um, I heard a uh a lot of loud seconds, but I also want to clarify one more thing.

Ms.

Tyrona Clark Murray was also in attendance.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Clark Murray, for joining me as well to uh that's last Friday.

Um, and this what we do simply is this letting this go on the ballot.

Let us let us take a vote on it eventually after we discharge it, and let the community decide on what they want to do.

Simple as that.

So um now that we have a second, I'm gonna uh recall, actually.

This is up to you now, Mr.

President, but deciding on that, we're gonna uh call for electronic roll call if that's the case.

Yeah, there's no one else in the queue.

Actually, Councilmember Holland.

Sorry, President elect Howland.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I would like to ask through the president if I can.

Ms.

Stefopoulos.

Uh I was not in finance last week.

Can you please read the Florida statute that addresses our responsibility with respect to school board military actions?

Sir, through the through the president to council president designate Howland.

Uh, so yes, the the type of millage that they're uh pursuing to be placed on the ballot for referendum for continuance is a four-year millage for operational purposes, and that's um the process for that is under is described in uh Florida Statute 1011.73.

And it does state, and I'll quote from the statute the district school board, pursuant to resolution adopted at a regular meeting, shall direct the county commissioners to call an election at which the electors within the school district may approve and add valora millage as authorized under section 1011.719.

And so they did supply that resolution, which is attached to the legislation pending before council or discuss being discussed at this moment, and so it does direct that the council acting as the board of county commissioners in this indic in this instance would place it on the ballot or direct the supervisor to place it on the ballot for November 3rd.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

With with that knowledge, I will support the motion to discharge.

All right, Councilwoman Clark Myer.

Thank you, President Carrico.

It goes without saying that I support this discharging the bill from the finance committee so that we can take action on it today.

If I'm not mistaken, that is what we're doing at this time.

I have some people looking at me like they're not sure.

So it our duty as a council is to simply pass this bill on so that the voters in Duval County can vote on it.

It's not our job to decide whether or not they should have that right.

They have that right by Florida statute, and so we need to fulfill our duty, which is simply to pass this bill on to the supervisor of elections so that it can go on November's ballot, so that the people can decide whether or not they want to continue this amount of money to supplement for teachers for art and for PE.

But ultimately, if you say no to this, you're saying no to children, and not just one or two children, but over a hundred thousand children.

So consider that.

Thank you.

All right, and we are still on the discharge.

No one's in the queue.

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

Aye.

Any opposed say nay?

The discharge passes.

Can I get a motion and second?

All right, motion and second on the bill on the floor.

Any discussion on the bill.

All right.

Uh Dr.

Salem's first.

President Salem recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I was uh one of those in finance that initially deferred this bill.

Um I was not comfortable at that time with the bill.

I had a uh an hour meeting with Dr.

Brunier, uh, who was very persuasive on the statistics that he presented to me on the improvements in our school system that I think are secondary to this bill, uh to the uh to the mill, uh, such as decreased turnover, decreased vacancies, and I believe this system will be a a school system again, secondary to this one mill.

As I've stated before, I don't have a ministerial button, and I feel strongly about that.

I have a green button and a red button, but I have been convinced that that I am gonna vote yes and to put this on the ballot because I think the the evidence is there that this that this mill has made significant improvements in our system, and I want to give the residents the ability to vote on it themselves.

Thank you.

Councilmember Aries.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Now that we discharged it, thank you, colleagues, for that.

I'm gonna talk about the actual bill itself and what it uh means to our community.

So uh Ms.

Clark Murray, Mr.

Salem, you guys hit it right on the nail.

Um realistically, we're looking at uh out of 100%.

This is just a mill extension.

We're we're putting on the ballot.

We're not voting on whether we're gonna extend it or not.

Let the voters decide on that.

But here's what this uh measure will do for the voters and for the teachers sitting out there and for the staff members and the paraprofessionals and everybody out there.

There are people that are getting they're starting at $15 an hour.

Their last raise was five cents.

That touched my heart.

There's survivors of breast cancer that are using these bonuses.

They're not even uh adding their uh including their salaries.

This is just a bonus of seven to eight thousand dollars a year for them.

They're using it to pay their medical bills.

These teachers, these educators, these staff members, they don't they don't need to be wasting their time right now here at City Hall.

They need to go out in their summer, spend time with their families, or focus on the curriculum for next year.

They need to focus on their classrooms.

The longer we prolong this, the longer we extend this, the less work they have, and the less time they have with their families.

They already have a short enough season as it is.

So obviously, I think we're we're gonna get this across the board today, but the significance of this is larger than just a vote yes or no.

It's about the livelihood of these people here.

A lot of people are the people that take care of our students and our family members.

So I really encourage all of you guys to get a unanimous vote yes across the board because ultimately we owe this to them and we owe this to the community.

Let the community decide what they want to do.

And come November, hopefully they'll they'll get the answers uh that they requested.

So that's all I have, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Councilwoman Clark Murray.

Uh President elect Howland.

Sorry, I keep getting tired of saying that.

President elect, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Four years ago in 2022, I voted no to put the one mil in the ballot for the school board.

And I did that for one specific reason.

There was another funding source available immediately for teacher compensation, a nearly $300 million funding source that could have paid teacher bonuses then to address the critical teacher shortage then, as well as increase compensation for the next four years.

That funding source was the American Rescue Plan, the SR2 funds.

I was told at the time by the district that it could not be used for teacher compensation.

But I read aloud on the day of say uh United States Secretary of Education letter that said it could.

The Florida Department of Education told me it could.

Indeed, other counties were doing so and planning to use that source in lieu of having to increase the millage rate until 2026.

So the one mil increase then was unnecessary.

And I felt voters were being misled, and teachers could have immediately received a bonus or a compensation then.

But now art funds have been depleted.

And I'll leave it to the school board to research how those funds were used.

Perhaps they serve a critical use, but they've been depleted.

And I've had several conversations with now Superintendent Bernier over the last few months on this issue on the cuts they've made, the consolidations, the cost savings, everything the school district has done.

And I'm confident this time we're not being misled.

There is no other funding source.

So tonight I will support putting this measure on the ballot.

That's what we're voting on here.

We're not voting on extending the one mil, but putting it on the ballot.

The one million million, sorry, the one mil extension, that's for voters to decide in November.

I'll be a yes tonight.

Thanks.

Councilmember Gay.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, in rules when it came before us there, I supported it then, and uh I'll be supporting it tonight as well, because I believe in the fundamental of giving the people a choice to uh vote for a tax or vote not vote for a tax, and this is putting it on the plate of the people that when they come up to make that decision, they they will vote their circumstance.

And so that this is uh the American way.

This is what we should be doing.

We should be getting it out to the people to vote on a tax like this.

And as I said in setting rules, this us pushing the green button doesn't mean that there's a one mil tax coming.

It means it's going to the people, and I support anything that puts it on the uh people's choice.

Thank you, sir.

Dr.

Johnson.

Okay, he's in the queue, but he's not in his chair.

Councilwoman Pittman.

The chair and to Dr.

Brunier and all of the school board members and guests and voters who are out there.

I supported it and finance.

I seconded tonight, and I just want to say what matters to you all, it matters to me, and I want to make sure that we continue to do the best that we can for our teachers and for our students, and to make sure that we don't hurt them, but an opportunity to give y'all a chance to vote.

What matters to you all.

Thank you.

Mr.

Amaro, the councilman from Arlington.

You're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I uh I hesitate to get up because a lot has been said.

I supported this measure in committee, and I'm going to support it tonight.

Um, having educators within my family, my wife is a retired college professor.

I've got two daughters that are teachers.

I know firsthand how educators are underestimated, undercompensated, underappreciated.

And I think this measure needs to be put to the voters so that they can express their values of educators, and that's what we're doing.

We've always been a pass-through, and we're gonna let the community decide if teachers are worthy of this.

And I am convinced that when they go into the ballot box, it will remember their teacher, all of us.

If you ask us who was your favorite teacher, we can all put, uh we can all name someone in our journey because we would not be professionals without educators.

So I will I'm gonna support this.

All right, no one else in the queue.

Please open the ballot, according to vote.

15 years, zero nays.

All right, actually, you've approved.

Where are we at?

2026-387.

Colleagues, with that, we're now gonna go all the way to page 59 and take up unfinished business, which is item 147 2025-0872.

I move the amendment.

Got a motion and second on the amendment.

Is that the floor amendment, or do we need someone to move that?

All right, should we take the floor amendment up first?

All right, motion and second on the technical amendment.

Um, assuming Miss Clark Murray, you're in the queue for your floor amendment.

So we're gonna vote on the technical amendment.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Any posts say nay.

The technical amendment from the committee passes, councilwoman Clark Murray, you're recognized.

Thank you, President Carrico.

This has been a long time coming, so wow.

Um, I know that the introducer of this particular bill has gone through several aspects to, in a sense, check and balance it.

I have examined this bill in several ways as well, financially, um, and when it comes to the actual um charter and when it comes to the ordinance, what it says in regards to appointments for KHA and for the library uh trust committee, yeah, library trustees.

So, one of the things that I see, and and I also had a question, which I'm not asking him to answer it today, but I did have this question because this is not the first time this bill's been presented before us.

This is like maybe the second, possibly the third time, if I'm not mistaken, council member areas had also sponsored this bill at one time.

So with that being said, and just the fact that KHA was established by the previous um mayor, and the setup as far as the board was established by him.

He has a right or mayor curry at the time, and he had the right according to chapter 50 in our ordinance code to do that.

So, what the council member here is proposing to do is to change the board, and so he's well within his right to do so, and we know that based on Mr.

Fackles um result of his um basically the the result of him him doing, I'm gonna use the term study, but I know it's not a study.

But what I want to do with the floor amendment, because so many people have a tendency to need to uh recluse themselves when it comes to bills that regard KHA and some of the other um, some of the other departments and um organizations that are established under the executive branch.

Uh, you have this floor amendment before you, and what it does is that say, for example, if the council president has connections to any entity that receives funding from KHA, then it seems to be, I don't want to use the term misleading, but it seems that he or she should not be allowed to appoint any board members.

So then the power to do so or the authority would defer to the vice president.

And in the case that if the vice president wasn't able to do so, then that board member would stay on the KHA board until there was an opportunity so when the vice president or the president would no longer have any connections to KHA.

So that essentially is the floor amendment that I'm proposing today.

Thank you.

And I'll take any questions.

On the bill, Mr.

President, I was hoping we could get an explanation of the bill in general before we got into the amendments, but I guess I lost that opportunity.

All right.

As to the amendment, no one else is in the queue, but I'd like to speak to it.

So I guess I will relinquish the chair to the president elected.

Mr.

President, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I always do the switch.

Oh, yeah, sorry about that.

Thank you, Mr.

President Elect.

Uh I rise just to ask a few questions to OGC.

Why not just call it the CARICO amendment?

Uh I am the president, and I do have a connection to KHA, obviously, through my employer, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.

So do I have as just a sitting council member, not as the president, do I have a conflict in voting for board members of KHA?

Through the president designate to Council President Caraco.

I believe any time we've looked at that for you, the determination has been that no, you're not precluded from voting on appointments to the Kids Hope Alliance Board.

So as a council member, I can vote on members of the KHA as already clear through X.

I've through ethics, I've voted on uh several KHA board appointments and their CEO over the years, and it's always been clear through ethics.

So I don't currently have a conflict in voting for a KHA board member, so I don't think I should have a conflict in um nominating one because I'm just one person nominating the board member, the body decides as 19 uh who goes on that.

So if you don't agree with uh someone, if I were able to nominate them to KHA, then you can vote it down, and that's your freedom.

And I think this uh amendment for that reason is irrelevant.

So I would vote no for it, and I would ask you to do the same.

Thanks.

I don't want you to.

All right, rolling through the queue.

Dr.

Salem, you're still up there.

I think you're just on because you want to speak on the bill first.

I will call on you first.

Uh council member past president Matt Carlos.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I support the amendment.

I think it makes sense.

And uh I don't support the bill.

I don't think anything's broken.

Uh I don't know what we're trying to fix it.

We already have uh, but I'll talk to that in a moment, but I um I support uh I support the amendment, and I after what I've seen this year, uh I think it's needed, and uh I I think it's almost a self-policing measure, uh, the way I look at it.

And uh I'm tired of the the the mud puddles we keep stepping into when it comes to not for profits, and so um I supported and I would urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Clark Murray.

Thank you.

So through the president to the body, it's a way this floor amendment is a way to avoid the appearance of impropriety, it's a it's a way to avoid the things that this council may not necessarily do, but there's a perception that we do, so this is in a sense of protection.

If we want the people to trust us, we need to do things that allow the people to have trust in us, and so I'm asking you to vote vote this floor amendment up.

Once again.

If the person who sits in the chair of president doesn't have any connections with KHA for at least five years, and you can look in the floor amendment, then that person can vote freely, and we can, in a sense, make the assumption that there won't be any sense of impropriety.

But just the fact that there are connections, there's that view.

And once again, the authority goes to the vice president.

And once again, if the vice president in that same kind of situation, then that board member will continue to remain on KHA until we have a person in the vice president position or president position who has no connections to KHA.

I ask that you vote this up.

Councilmember Vice President elect Joe Carlucci, recognized.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm not going to support the amendment.

I think there's more ethics laws in place right now that prevent this.

There's there's no voting conflict that we've just heard, not to mention the floor amendment says it prohibits it prohibits the council president from appointing a member of the KHA.

You're not appointed, that's not a unilateral move.

So I don't know who drafted the amendment, but it's actually worded and correctly, anyways, because the council president doesn't appoint anybody.

Um they nominate a person and then the full body appoints the full body votes for that.

So that in and of itself, this whole floor amendment should be voided just for that one reason, or it can be amended.

But I'm not gonna support it either way.

I think the ethics are covering us in the full clear of this, so I'm not gonna be supporting it.

Thank you.

All right, Dr.

Salem on the amendment.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, as a past president, it really bothers me that we're infringing on the appointment process of of a president.

And my question would be where does it go from here?

If it's KHA today, is it something else in the future?

So uh I will not be supporting the amendment.

Thank you.

Once again, Councilwoman Clark Murray.

Thank you, President Carico.

Um, to respond to Mr.

Councilmember Salem's question, it's not going to various places.

This particular floor amendment is about this particular bill in the same way that it was established by the previous mayor, that all of the members of KHA would be appointed by the mayor because KHA is under the executive branch of our government, in the same way that you've just make a decision that you want to change it.

So there's no role like anything snowballing.

This is this bill and this bill alone.

So it's not going to any other bills.

Just like you've made a decision to want to change the board for KHA, I am asking, proposing a floor amendment for simply to look at the aspects that are because or the aspects that may arise as a result of all 19 of us may have some connections to KHA, and so that may solve that problem that may arise.

Thank you.

Alright, President elect Howland, you recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, Councilman Woman Clark Murray, I admire the intent behind this, um, but I also think it's unnecessary.

I have no connection to KHA, and I'm the next president, and the next vice president has no connection to KHA.

So there will be no need for this for the next two years.

Um, and I really don't think it's necessary.

It could be part of a larger bill separate than this, but I'm gonna vote no.

Thanks.

All right, Councilman Carlucci for the second time.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I'll be brief.

Um, the other reason I I don't I I appreciate the intent of this uh I do, and I get the safe measure, but but the reason we have a local ethics department, we have a state ethics department is because it's widespread and it covers all of our it covers all of our boards and appointees appointments.

So if it's just KHA or if it's JAA or DIA or whatever, ethics covers all of those boards altogether.

So that's why I think we have safe measures in place right now that are being followed, and that's why I will not be supporting the floor amendment.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Clark Murray for the fourth time.

Thank you, President Carico.

I appreciate your comments.

The one thing I would do want to respond to is the fact that you put a particular name in there or a particular person.

This bill is not about, it is not about President Carico.

He happens to be sitting in that seat now.

It is not about vice president or president elect Howland.

It is not about Vice President Carlucci, it is not, it is about whomever sits in those seats in the same way that this bill shouldn't be about this mayor, it should be about mayors, not this mayor, but mayors.

Thank you.

Alright, Pass President Carlucci for the second time.

I can certainly understand why some people wouldn't support it.

But I'm going to support it.

Just because I'm tired of some of the things that are going on.

I'm just tired of it.

And I think we need to sometimes put a shot across the bowel and say, look, no more of this nonsense.

That's what we've had this year.

And then I'm tired of it.

I believe in the institution of this body.

And I think the integrity of it needs to be held up.

And sometimes an amendment like this may not pass, but it does send a message.

And that's what my vote on this amendment is doing.

I didn't suspect it would pass, but I'm supporting it because of the message it sends.

And we need to be serious about our jobs up here and what we do.

Thank you.

Thank you, Past President Carlucci.

No one else is in the queue, so all in favor of the amendment, raise your hand.

Those who oppose, raise your hand.

The amendment fails.

I move the bill as amended.

Motion a second on the bill as amended.

Pass President Salem.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

As we discussed, Mr.

Facler, could you come forward and just give a brief uh two or three minute uh discussion on how you got to where you are today, and then I'll take it from there.

That's okay, Mr.

President.

Yeah, let's just have uh Mr.

Facklet come down.

We'll give him his own time and how's three minutes, Mr.

Fagler.

Uh three minutes is great for me.

All right.

I don't know if it'll take three minutes.

So through the chair to the body, this issue arose uh when Council Arias, Councilman Arias filed his bill on this point.

We looked at it, we had some concerns whether it complied with the charter and the separation of powers.

We gave a preliminary opinion regarding that uh in preparation for a vote that was to occur.

Um, we then did had a little more time and did a deeper dive.

I appreciate the input of some outside attorneys, some former general counsels giving some input and asking us to make another look at the issue.

And so we did that and we took a deeper dive.

We engaged other attorneys in our office.

The result of that, and I don't think study is the wrong term, Councilman Clark Murray.

We did our research and our studying of that, and it's a little more nuanced than we originally uh preliminarily indicated.

Um, and so there's a nuanced approach.

It's not categorically that appointment power is purely an executive function, it's much more nuanced with an analysis of what power is being used and the interplay between the legislative and an executive body.

So we issued a memo.

Uh, one of my uh brightest attorneys issued a memo, uh, I believe it was dated last month.

I don't have the exact date off the top of my head, that provided an analysis of that, and that summarized the thinking of uh the OGC attorneys working on that matter, and in short order for both uh of the issues for KHA and the library board, using the four factors from a case in Bennett that we also used in a previous binding opinion.

Uh, we determined that it was a very close call, meaning that it was close to a violation of the separation of powers enshrined in our charter, but based on the fact that the mayor retained a majority uh of the appointment powers and the interplay on how the appointments get confirmed, uh, the nature of how it was brought to here.

We thought it was a close call, but we thought it passed the chartitutional test.

I'm still trying to get that word adopted, so I'm going to use it again.

Uh we thought it passed the chartitutional test, and that it is something that, if passed, would not violate the charter.

And I'll be happy to take any questions from the board.

I mean from the council.

All right, thank you.

Now we'll just go through the queue.

So Dr.

Salem, you're first.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

First of all, I want to thank Mr.

Fackler for going through the process he did.

We have worked on this for about six months, and several past general counsels have interacted with him, and he came to the conclusion he did, and I appreciate that.

Uh why these two?

Why KHA and why the Library Board?

KHA, if you if you watch KHA, there are issues at KHA, and we have no appointments to that.

It's almost a $65 million budget, and I believe the city council should be engaged in that beyond passing their budget and be able to during the year have some input through the president and those appointments.

Number two, the library.

Again, 40 plus million dollars as we face the budget, we're about ready to get into.

We have libraries all over this community.

I believe the city council through our president should have appointments to address issues within the library system.

I have raised them in the budget process for several years.

We've got the internet, we've got chat GPT, and we are still using the same library system essentially that we've used for the last 50 years.

We've got small libraries, we've got big libraries, we've got big decisions to make on our library system, and I I want the city council to have the ability to make appointments.

Both these bills respect the strong mayoral form of our government.

That was very important to me, as Mr.

Fackler said in his analysis.

This the council president gets three of the seven for the school board and five of the twelve on the library board of trustees.

Number two, we don't get those appointments until somebody rolls off.

I'm not trying to disrupt KHA or the school board or the library.

I'm gradually the council president would get those appointments as people rolled off, and I think that's important to recognize as part of this bill.

I keep hearing that.

I have one year left on this council.

I'm not gonna make any appointments, and it's for future mayors as well.

So this is not a one-year bill taking power away from this mayor.

This is legislation that will go on past this.

All future mayors will abide by this, whether they're Republicans or Democrats, and the same with the city council.

I think it's a good bill, it's a fair bill, it's a fair bill to the mayor, and it's a fair bill to the city council.

We should have these appointments.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Past President Salem.

Uh Councilman Amaro, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you to uh Dr.

Salem for bringing the bill.

Thank you to uh Mr.

Fackler for his diligence in defining uh responsibility and the fact that concluding the uh the legislation does not violate the city charter.

If I can speak anecdotally, um my dad was 93, he was having some visionary issues, but he would get in his car and drive.

And I asked him why are you doing that?

How are you able to do it?

He said, son, I just stay between the white lines.

I'm one of those who believe in staying in your lane.

And for some reason, in my spirit, this bill seems like it's one of those that because we can, we should.

I'm just the opposite because we can doesn't mean we should.

So I'm gonna vote no.

Uh it's probably gonna pass, but that's the reason for my no vote.

Thank you.

That's President Carlucci.

Uh I don't think I could have said it any better than uh Councilman Amero.

Um what are the next boards we're gonna delve into?

And by the way, we do have checks and balances.

We there was an appointment that came up to the library board and uh we we didn't appoint her.

So the mayor had to go back and find somebody else.

And uh I think the mayor reaches out to us uh uh for help and putting appointments in to these um uh committees and and so forth commissions, but something about the kids hope alliance last year or two also doesn't make this bill feel right.

Um I I don't want to go into detail on it because I don't I don't want to but um but uh I I just it just doesn't feel like it's the right thing to do and uh it'll pass but I think it's a mistake I don't think it's fixing anything.

Uh it's a little bit I think we're gonna start looking at you know what we're gonna what we're gonna have appointments to, we should look at all of them.

This is a little willy-nilly to me.

Uh well, we're gonna do these two.

Well, what's gonna be next?

So this is not our lane.

We're always trying to reach over and get in the executive's lane.

That's what we try to do.

Certain people try to do up here.

We just need to stick to our knitting and do our job.

And um when we when we do that, we do a good job for the city, but we always trying to we're always trying to investigate, or always trying to get somebody else's business, mayor's business.

That's what we're doing here.

I'm just I'm just kind of over all that mess.

Thanks.

Councilman McClark Murray.

Thank you, President Carico.

I'm very glad to hear that the introducer of this bill has changed his rhetoric because when he first talked about it some months ago, and it does seem like six months.

I don't think it's been that long, but it does seem like a long time ago.

He exclaimed that the mayor was taking away our power without considering the fact that once again KHA, the KHA board was established by Mayor Lenny Curry.

It goes without saying, but I'm gonna say it anyway.

I'm not going to support the bill.

I'm not going to support the bill for many of the reasons that Mr.

Carlucci, excuse me, Councilmember Matt Carlucci mentioned, it seems unnecessary.

And it concerns me in looking at the five-year term trim term data data that I that we use in edit in the education realm, the amount of money supplied to KHA has gone from 35 million to 60 million plus.

Yeah.

Thank you, Councilmember Lane.

And with that comes extra concerns, in my opinion.

And I think the fact that the my the mayor gets to appoint and we get to confirm is a perfect setup.

It doesn't, it gives us that check and balance.

So we as a council, we do have a say so as to who goes on the board.

And I think that's fair.

It's fair as it is.

So with this particular scenario, it's going to be the mayor points and we confirm, and then we appoint the president appoints, and then we confirm.

That seems to be out of balance in my opinion.

The other things that were said is that that we're not engaged.

We are.

So once again, I will not be supporting this bill.

Thank you.

All right, no one else is in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

Nine yes, six nays.

By your action, you've approved 2025-0872.

Mr.

President, it is time for public comments.

Ladies and gentlemen.

If you wish to speak, you should have filled out a green public comment card.

No cards will be accepted after six, which we already passed.

Council rules call for an allotment of 90 minutes for public comment.

We did get a good number more than normal cards tonight.

So to do that, each speaker will be given one minute 30 seconds so that all those wishing to speak will have an opportunity to do so.

I'll announce five speakers at a time.

When I call your name, please come down the reserve seats in the front row while waiting your turn to speak.

Your time will not start until you arrive at the podium.

And remember to state your name and address before beginning, or you may say my address is on file.

A speaker may be invited to the green room for further discussion at a council members' discretion.

I'll read the first five names now so they can begin to make their way down, and then I'll have Mr.

Teal read council rule 4.505 regarding disruption of meetings.

First five speakers, John Meeks, Deanna Newell, Katie Hathaway, Kathleen Pereira.

Well, we'll go with the first four.

Then John Meeks, Deanna Newell, Katie Hathaway, and Kathleen Pereira.

Mr.

Teal, may you please read the rule.

Council rule 5.05 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 refuses to leave the city council chamber may be subject to arrest.

Thank you, Mr.

Teal.

Legislative services.

Please note the start time as 6 10, and Mr.

John Meeks, you're up.

Good evening.

I am John Lewis Meeks Jr., my address is on file.

I am the uh teacher first vice president of Duval Teachers United, AFT Local 3326.

And as a 23-year social studies teacher, I would like to say this is what representative democracy looks like.

Um I thank the educators and education staff professionals of Duval County for speaking out in favor of the resolution regarding the windmill, and I'm very grateful to our city council for listening.

Uh this is how I want us to move forward and keep the momentum for our A-grade school system and keep the momentum moving forward for teacher protection and for students in our community.

Thank you, City Council.

Thank you.

Next up, Deanna Newell.

Hi there, I'm Deanna Zastro Newell, and my address is on file.

Um I am a resident of Jacksonville.

I'm a Duval County school psychologist, and I'm one of the hundreds of student support professionals who recruitment and retention depend in part on the millage funding.

So school psychologists and other specialists like social workers, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, provide critical services to students and families in private schools, charter schools, and home education.

We serve students in hospitals, residential treatment, and juvenile justice settings.

We provide early intervention to preschoolers throughout the community, and we serve military families, many of whom come to Jacksonville specifically for the supports for students with special needs.

The work we do impacts the broader Jacksonville community and not just our public schools.

So tonight I want to thank you for giving voters the opportunity to consider this measure and giving us the chance to make our case directly to the community we serve.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Katie Hathaway.

Good evening, Katie Hathaway addresses on file.

I'm here as a frustrated resident, watching politicians from Tallahassee come to our city and recycle talking points about wasteful spending while offering no specifics or solutions.

And let's remember how our local government works.

Jacksonville has a 19-member city council.

This council controls the budget process, they review it, amend it, and ultimately approve how taxpayer dollars are being spent in the city.

So if we're going to have an honest conversation about spending, let's have one that's based on facts, not political theater.

And let's also remember that the people of Jacksonville elect local people, leaders to make local decisions and local control matters.

The people who live, work, raise families, and run businesses here understand our communities needs better than politicians.

Dropping in from Tallahassee for a press conference.

If investing in youth programs, parks, libraries, neighborhood improvements, housing, senior and veteran programs, and services that help families thrive is considered wasteful.

That I think most Jacksonville residents would disagree.

Jacksonville is growing and thriving because of the work being done across this city, and I appreciate the investments being made to contribute to our quality of life and helping Jacksonville become one of the best cities in the Southeast.

Yes, we still face challenges, and we should absolutely have conversations about how to spend taxpayer dollars wisely, but those those conversations require facts, transparency, and solutions, not political stunts designed to score points while providing no actual plan to move Jacksonville forward.

Please go out and advocate for our public schools, our teachers, and our kids.

Please help get the Duval Schools referendum across the finish line.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Kathleen Prayer, and then the five after that, please come on down.

Brian Jefferson, Robert Stafford, Dutchie Stevens, Brian Lapinski, and Teresa Myers.

Go ahead, Miss Prayer.

My name is Kathleen Prayer.

My information is on file.

All citizens want prudent and honest city planning.

It is neither prudent nor honest to keep changing zoning codes and land uses whenever an owner demands it, especially when it will suit only them.

Just as the city would not allow me to build a 5,000 watt radio station or pig farm on my RLD zone property.

The city should not also not allow any developer to build a 15,000 seat soccer stadium multiplex on property currently zoned for CRO and RLD, especially when this project will detrimentally impact two residential neighborhoods.

The stadium developers obviously don't care that the purpose of CRO CRO zoning is to develop smaller commercial venues as a gradual transition from residential to major commercial projects.

So it's up to the city to first look at how a project like the SACA Stadium will impact the surrounding areas and deny the application at its start, since it will drastically harm the character amenities that make neighborhoods like Fox Chase, Woodland Station, and Wendy Hill attractive.

If however, all the city authorities have no problems ruining common communities like this, how can we trust them for anything else?

Move the soccer stadium to another location that will not affect residential residents.

Also, no to 2026 0364 and yes to 2026 0227.

Thank you.

Thank Miss Prayer.

Next up, Brian Jefferson.

Followed by Robert Stafford.

My name is Brian Jefferson, and my address is on file.

Um I'm gonna keep it quick.

In 2025, there were over five JSON involved shootings related to my mental health crisis.

The community deserves a guaranteed precautions ensuring that the actions of JSO officers will not result in their death when they are experiencing a mental health crisis.

A mental health crisis should not be a death sentence, point blank period.

JSO's officers are not trained to de-escalate and respond to a mental health crisis leading to these incidents again and again.

And we see that JSO's budget is continuing to grow and grow, being the uh lion's share of the city's budget every year.

But we do not see any additional care put into mental health responses.

And one of the victims of this lack of care was Rashad Martin.

He was 32 years old and he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

His family called 911 in October of 2025, and his mother didn't want him arrested.

She wanted him helped.

Martin ran and tripped and was detained.

He showed signs of medical distress, and he was Baker acted and died in the psychiatric facility.

His mother, Vanessa, is still waiting for answers from JSON.

She is asking for trained mental health professionals on the scene of mental health crises and not police.

So the JSO's, excuse me, the JCAC's demands are simple.

We want to see the creation of a permanent mental health emergency response team professionals instead of police officers to respond to these situations.

We want to see the enforcement.

Thank you, sir.

Next up, Robert Stafford.

And then Dutchie Stevens.

Good evening.

My name is Robert Stafford.

My address is on file.

The Duball County Public School system is going around and advertised uh construction costs per square foot construction rate of three three hundred thirty-five dollars per square foot.

Down from $516 for reball, down from 473 for Hogan Spring Glen.

That rate of $335 came out of the Sales Surtex Old Site Committee.

The SSOC informed DCPS that in 2022, the Florida Department of Education stated that construction costs had risen by 21%, resulting in a rate of $264 per square foot for elementary schools, $325 for middle schools, and $360 for high schools.

The CO acknowledged existence.

I haven't seen that website, and the rest is history.

They went back and applied a construction escalation rates from 2022 to present.

And that's how we got to 335.

We could have been here three and a half years ago.

We could have been there today the referendum was passed, and we tied the cost per student station to the number of students in school.

Use that metric.

That metric has been used ever since 2000.

2000.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Next up, Dutchie Stevens.

And then Brian Lepinski after Miss Stevens.

Yes, Dutch Stevens and addresses on file.

I'm getting sick and tired of that mowing and cutting doing this illegal dumping.

They came out yesterday, these two Caucasian bullies that look like a cheat Ryan Lamo.

They probably got from a thrift stop shop.

They don't know how to take the blades off and get them shopping.

And they keep hitting that fire hygiene.

I don't file some with the federal file marsh in Washington, DC.

Because baby, I don't play.

You can't touch the Dutch, but I can show you the bus.

And they leaving all that cut up weeds all on the sidewalls.

People can trip and fall off there.

You didn't find it on the sidewalk.

Where's the blower?

They don't even come out there with the blower.

First time they did it was last month in March.

They ain't never blow that off.

You know, I mean, excuse me, last month in May, and then they came this month, June, and doing it.

So it's I don't know where they're getting these bullies from.

The mowing and cutting department.

It ain't the city that's doing it, it's who they have.

Well, that show this federal government funding, too.

And I bet you don't cut it like that in mandarin.

But when they shoot that weeds and leave it on the driveway, that's a good way to get some big shooting.

They better stop it.

Because we finna socket because enough is enough for that putting them weeds on our private property called dryways.

You ain't cutting our property.

You cutting the city's government, and they have cut it.

That don't even look like the city government.

I ain't never seen the city government right away looking like that when John Patters was the executive director of department of public works.

But that dirt won't work.

Thank you.

Thank you, Brian Lepinski.

Uh my name is Brian Lapinski, and I'm here to speak in support of the Freedom to Garden Act.

My address is 9363 Old Plank Road 3220.

Um I am the owner operator of down to earth organic farm on Old Plank Road on the west side.

And my wife and I started our farm nearly 20 years ago and were amazed at the demand and uh just that people had for a source of local clean organically grown food.

Um, there were not many local growers 20 years ago and fast forward to today, and there still are not very many growers for a city of nearly nearly a million people.

Um there are like likely lots of reasons for this, but there are examples of small scale growers having to deal with various bureaucratic and code problems that are too arduous or complex to navigate or are unevenly applied.

Uh, my farm is blessed to be zoned AG, but we need to create a better environment for microfarms and community gardens to thrive.

A group of us are here to ask for a meaningful reform.

It'll help small growers and community gardeners alike have a clear path to helping us feed ourselves as a city.

Please push forward and support the Freedom to Garden Act.

Thank you.

Next up, Teresa Myers, and then the five after that will be Susan Grandin, Barry Cotter, Monique Sampson, Tammy Marinette, Brock Sevens, and Donna Westridge.

Teresa Myers, are you here?

Okay, I'll save her cards.

Susan Grandon.

Susan Grandin here.

Oh, I see her there.

And then after Susan will be uh Barry Connor.

Good evening, Councilmember.

Susan Grandin, and my address is on file.

I'm representing uh Scenic Jacksonville this evening, and um in opposition to ordinance 2026 363 as it's currently drafted.

We think that there's some room for improvement on this one.

We really hope that you guys will defer it tonight or postpone it, whatever the um nomenclature might be.

Um, because we senior Jacksonville really does want efficient and accountable development plans, review, and inspections.

And the 363, what it does, if you don't know what that the number means, it's it allows private providers to um review plans that are submitted to development services and to do building inspections.

Um while that's good in some disciplines, I believe that the bill goes too far.

Uh, the state statute that it's patterned after limits the private providers to architects, engineers, and building codes administrators.

It doesn't go as far as landscape architects or arborists, that type of thing.

So it does go too far, and I really think it needs some more clarification and some more work, which I think the public works department is working with the uh councilmember diamond, who's not here tonight, uh, to work on that.

So we really hope that it could be uh postponed and even go back to committee.

Uh, in looking at the substitutes from LUZ and rules, which were the bill was hard to get a hold of to begin with because things weren't up on the web.

Um, thank you.

Next up, Barry Cotter, and it'll be Monique Simpson after Mr.

Cotter.

Okay.

My name's Barry Carter.

Address is on file.

Well, I was gonna talk about asking you to take the steps to pass the teacher bill, pay, but I guess now I'm just gonna say thank you.

I got a long thing to say.

But uh now I'll just say thank you.

Um I'm gonna make a comment about the other big tax cut.

Oh, yeah.

I'd hate to be any of you working on that budget.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Monique Sampson.

And after Miss Sampson will be Tammy Wynette, Brock Sabbaths.

Okay, that was a little strange, but had to sorry about that to place my back there.

Hi, my name is Monique Sanson.

I am a civics teacher, mom, homeowner, community member, and a proud member of Duval Teachers United, as well as a union steward.

And I came prepared to ask y'all to put the mill in the ballot, and thankfully, y'all did.

So I wanted to kind of talk about how it is impacted by family.

Um, so my daughter, Atala Sampson, she has autism, and she goes to Garden City Elementary in the preschool disabilities program as one of the school psychologists talking about earlier, and she had a teacher and a speech language pathologist and a pair of the entire year.

For some people, that's not a big deal, but it was a super duper big deal because in DCPS before the mill, by December, five to six teachers will be gone.

By March, another two to three.

And the reason because they couldn't take the low pay, the long hours, and the lack of respect.

But after the mill, our schools are really well staffed.

Okay, I can go on vacation, I can do all this stuff and not have to worry about um staffing.

And for our household, because a lot of people think it means getting rich, um, it means it meant expanding our family, welcoming our son a few months ago, and establishing a college fund for our daughter through Florida Prepaid.

It meant catching up on bills, being able to buy pencils, candy, and most importantly, the odorant for my students without worrying about breaking the bank.

The mill has changed so much for our family, and it's worth keeping.

And as a homeowner, I can confidently say that I don't mind paying a little bit more on the front end to save money on the back end, and we will save money by having fully staffed schools, and we do that by making sure school staff is appreciated.

Also, on another note, as a community member, I say let Connor speak and support a mental health emergency response team being fought for by the Jacksville Community Action Committee.

Thank you so much.

I'm gonna grab my personal.

Thank you.

Tammy Wynette, Brock Sevens, and then Donna Westrich.

Is Tammy here?

Okay.

Okay, Donna Westrich.

Hi there.

My name is Donna Westrich.

My address is on file.

I am a marine science teacher at Fletcher High School.

I'm just like everybody else here wearing red.

I came here to ask you to put the one mil referendum on the ballot.

You did that.

Thank you so much.

So I just want to remind everybody what the one mill means.

It's not only a teacher salary supplement.

It also provides a supplement for our JSO officers and our school guardians.

It also pays for band uniforms, track updates, football fields.

So thank you.

Thank you from all the teachers.

Thank you from the JSO officers.

Thank you from the students.

Appreciate your efforts, and let's tell all of our friends to vote for the referendum.

Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you.

Last call here for Tammy Wynette, Brox Evans or Teresa Myers.

Are you out there?

Miss Brox Evans was here to speak about the referendum, and Miss Myers did not fill out anything.

Next speakers, please come on down.

Miss Cindy Pearson, Frank Wallmeyer, Tiffany Clark, Carrie Bags, and Nathan Valentine.

Ms.

Pearson.

Hi, Cindy Pearson.

Address on file.

I stayed to say thank you.

First of all, I want to say thank you to Councilman Arias and Councilman Matt Carlucci and Councilwoman Tyrone Clark Murray for the meetings on Friday.

I think that was an example of good governance and of us being able to work together.

You had questions, we came, we answered questions, we put the call out to the community to come, and they showed up.

And so I really appreciate you voicing your questions and then listening to the answers and letting it move your heart and your minds on the topic.

Secondly, I want to say thank you for the unanimous vote.

That's really really important.

The third thing I want to do is try to persuade you to join me in November of voting for the one mill when it comes the renewal when it comes on the ballot.

I'll give you a few fast facts on that.

Per statute, we share the one mill with our charter partners based on uh student allocation.

So 80% of what's collected goes to DCPS, 20% goes to our charter partners.

Of the portion that DCPS gets, 75% go for salary enhancement.

You've heard it's for teachers, but also for SROs, for paras, for other workers in the schools and in the school system.

12.5% goes for arts enhancements, 12.5% goes for athletics enhancements.

The board votes on the expenditures.

Well that went fast.

Thank you, Ms.

Pearson.

And that went fast.

Okay.

Mr.

Frank Wallmire.

All right.

Good evening.

My name is Frank Wallmeyer.

My address is on file.

My current job title is steward at Standard Feed and Seed, an 80-year-old Jacksonville business located in the nearby rail yard district.

I say steward and not owner because the steward is a caretaker who has a responsibility to do what is right and what is good.

Similarly, as esteemed public servants, y'all are stewards of our great city.

I know you take very seriously your responsibility to do what is right and what is good.

I'm here tonight to support encourage the Free to Garden Act, which will make community and market gardens permissible by right in our great city of Jacksonville.

Gardening is good, fresh fruits and vegetables are good.

Growing food and food deserts is good.

Food resilience is good.

Eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic red tape is good.

Supporting beneficial uses of personal property is good.

The Free to Garden Act is good.

That's why last night at its monthly meeting, the Duval County Farm Bureau, one of the leading advocates for agriculture in Duval County, voted unanimously in support of the Free to Garden Act.

I sincerely thank y'all for the time and consideration and hope when the Free to Garden Act is put forward, it will have 19 sponsors.

Thank you.

Tiffany Clark.

Good evening.

My name is Tiffany Clark, and my address is on file.

As a parent of two graduates of Duval County Public Schools, a solopreneur, a wife of 30 years to someone who has also matriculated to Duval County Public Schools as someone who volunteers on a weekly and a monthly basis in our schools.

I absolutely support this referendum, and I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you so much for your unanimous vote.

Tonight I'm wearing this shirt.

Let the voters decide.

Thank you for allowing that.

Have a good evening.

Thank you.

Carrie Bax.

And then Nathan Valentine after Miss Bex.

Good evening.

Thank you for having me.

My name is Carrie Baggs.

My information is on file.

Monday, June 12, 2026 at 9 30 p.m.

I'm sorry, 9 30 a.m.

Mayor Deegans would be at the George Creedy Bridge, Fish and Pier State Park.

And we are extending an invitation to everyone to join us there.

We need everyone to come out and support the reconstruction at the historical bridge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Nathan Valentine.

Good evening.

My name is Nathan Ballantine.

Our farm grows at 125 East 7th Street.

On January 22nd, 2026, nearly two years after first applying, Overall Farm 3 secured its certificate of use from Jacksonville to operate legally as a neighborhood farm.

Winning a COU granting us permission to grow took two years, three citations, four meetings with city officials, the backing of five operational nonprofit partners, 11 letters of support from neighborhood business leaders, 125 neighborhood UPIC farm members, 500 plus families on our farm member wait list, over 1,350 signatures on the petition for permission to grow, and over $50,000 in lost revenue.

Not to mention having our USDA farm serial number and state level greenbelt exemption, three three state level legal presumptions against local limits of bona fide farms being honored as the outstanding agriculturalist at Farm City Luncheon and ultimately a legal request for dismissal of the citation.

We won our COU, but the fight for permission to grow food with and for our neighbors goes way beyond Farm 3.

For example, our journey took half as long as that of Claire White Mission to secure a COU for Earth as Farm and Market back in 2014.

They began growing food for the community in 2010.

Stepping back even further, the Ithis Ag Extension Community Garden has been providing gardening plots for members of the community since 1977.

It does not and never has had legal permission to operate under the zoning code.

It should not be this hard to grow food with and for our neighbors.

That's why.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Our next five are Alex Weist, Denise Scott, Joseph George, Ruth Thompson, and Jennifer Leggett.

So Alex Weist, you may go when you get to the podium.

It's a let weese, but that's okay.

Good evening.

My name is Lette Weist, and I'm representing myself and the Just Food Network.

My address is in file.

I'm here tonight to support and encourage the Free to Garden Act, which will make community market gardens permissible by right in Jacksonville.

Community gardens provide fresh, healthy food to neighbors who need it.

Right now, Nathan Valentine has hundreds of families on his waiting list who want to patronize this community gardens, including myself.

Even though I'm not currently patronizing Nathan's community garden, I do rely on market gardens and our farmers' markets need more market garden vendors.

I rely on market garden vendors for my organic produce because USDA organic is no longer reliable.

As organic food becomes unreliable, grocery store prices go up.

We need to rely on market gardens and community gardens that cut down costs and have healthy and sustainable practices.

We have seen global supply lines disrupted, food prices on the rise, organic produce at grocery stores becoming increasingly unreliable, and local community and market gardeners would be well positioned to help insulate us from these problems when they arise.

Please help us pass the Free to Garden Act.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Denise Scott.

I did not know there she's good evening.

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

Thank you, Aries, because in that meeting five, you said you were going to bring it before the president.

So I appreciate that, and I thank you all for voting for it.

But to be honest with you, you wasted a lot of time because your only job was to put the referendum on the ballot.

That's it.

And let the people decide.

I mean, you just did too much.

And the people see why you all won't support that full amendment by um from Clot Murray.

A hit dog surely will holler.

You don't want checks and balances.

Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching.

This ain't no difference than when um Carico sent that message to JEA board member.

You all love drama.

You're corrupt.

Um, let's see.

What else?

Oh, I realize that this council and JEA are at odds, it seems like it.

So, Councilman Salem, since you're the liaison, you need to remind that board that this is the public-owned facility, and the people want them to collect those overdue fees.

Now, when the working class people can't pay their bills, we have two options.

We either make a payment arrangement, and when that payment arrangement isn't done, um, they disconnect our services.

So get JEA to make a payment arrangement with the for those millions of dollars that's owed, so we don't have to be have a rate increase in um October.

Joseph George.

Good evening.

My name is Macy O.

George.

I'm the president of North Florida Central Labor Council.

My address is on file.

In Jacksonville voicing concern that city council meetings may cause consequences.

Individuals exercising their First Amendment rights have on occasion face forceful responses and arrests by JSON for merely expressing the truth.

In recent years, JSO has arrested four community advocates, Ben Frazier, Connor Carley, Leo Grady, and Tegan Beloit at council meetings.

Such incidents have reinforced concerns regarding the treatment of individual exercising their First Amendment rights.

City Council, your action regarding First Amendment rights have caused concern among the community.

The public is observing council decision and will participate actively at the ballot box in 2027.

Turning to another important matter.

Expressed the hope that negotiation will yield the following outcomes that fair wages will be established to keep pace with current economic conditions, that workers doing the same work will be paid the same wages.

Furthermore, when the recommendation is before you, thank you, sir.

Please approve it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ruth Thompson.

And then it'll be Jennifer Leggett after Miss Ruth Thompson.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Ruth Thompson, and I'm with Be Grateful Apiaries.

We're urban beekeepers that manage about a hundred hives throughout Jacksonville in the urban area.

My address is 1605 Oceola Street, Jacksonville, Florida.

I'm here tonight to support the free-to-guard free to garden act, which will make community and market gardens permissible by right in Jacksonville.

I had a longer speech, but for one minute, I'm going to uh make it concise.

This is a win-win situation for Jacksonville and for urban farmers.

Farms, urban farms provide community outreach, community building.

It provides food for especially our food deserts.

Many of the farms are on abandoned properties.

And this month is pollinator month, with the week of June 22nd through the 27th being pollinator week.

During pollinator week, 4 million social media posts are given.

700 official official registered events, 36 state governors, and more than 140 mayors will issue formal proclamations, and 120 million dollars are spent on pollinator themes.

The greatest thing for pollinators are gardens to remote echo-friendly practices.

Thank you, ma'am.

And Mayor support the garden act.

Ma'am, you and anybody else that's here to talk about the Free to Garden Act.

Uh, Councilmember Aries would like to meet with you in the Robert Johnson room.

So if there's anyone here uh for the Free to Garden Act, and you'd like to talk to a council member Arius, he'll be in the Robert Johnson room to talk to you right now.

Uh next up, Jennifer Leggett.

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Jennifer Leggett.

I live at 8128 Concord Boulevard West, which is in Lake Forest.

I am here tonight to ask for your support for the Free to Garden Act.

I am the chair of the Duval County Agricultural Council, and I am a member of the Duval County Farm Bureau Board.

As someone who has spent decades running a small business in Jacksonville, I understand the importance of having clear rules that protect neighborhoods while still allowing people the freedom to create, building contribute to their community.

The Free to Garden Act creates clear standards and clear expectations.

It addresses concerns about noise, parking, lighting, composting, hours of operation.

It supports small-scale locally owned efforts while ensuring they remain compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.

What I appreciate most about this proposal is that it strikes a balance.

It respects private property rights while respecting neighbors.

It encourages local entrepreneurship while preventing large-scale commercial operations from moving into residential areas.

The Free to Garden Act is practical, balanced, and good for our community.

I respectfully ask for your support and thank you for your time and your service to our city.

Thank you.

Next up, John Scott, and then after Mr.

Scott Dana Mole, Lisa Dawkins, Samantha Sears, and Addison Patrick.

Mr.

Scott, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr.

Floor Leader, Mr.

President, members of council.

My name is John Scott.

My address is on file.

Jacksonville residents are making incredibly difficult financial decisions every single day.

Families are dealing with rising property insurance costs, housing expenses, utility bills, and the increasing cost of everyday necessities.

They expect their local government to exercise the same level of discipline and accountability.

And the property tax amendment that will be on November's ballot is a catalyst to ensuring this body has the very tough conversations and be ready to reduce and significantly reduce funding and practice and prioritize core services.

Public safety, roads, infrastructure, parks, libraries, drainage, and other core services should remain the primary focus of city government.

This body has taken steps forward to make sure under your leadership, Mr.

President, that we head in that direction.

I am confident that under Mr.

Vice President's leadership, we will do the exact same thing.

Taxpayer deserve confidence that their money is being invested in the basic responsibilities of government before it is spent elsewhere.

Let me repeat that from Mayor Deegan.

Before it is spent elsewhere.

Florida will pass relief as they historically have.

Will this body be ready?

Thank you.

Next up, Dana Mole.

Good evening.

My name is Dana Michelle Maul, and I'm your Northside neighbor.

My address is on file, and I work in District 10.

I'm the founder of Northside Pride of Jacksonville, and tonight I came to show some gratitude to a few council members.

First, I want to thank Councilman Matt Carlucci.

Earlier this year, Northside Pride launched a youth mentorship program with nine students.

Standing next to me is Shiloh Davis, and she's a graduate of Rewalt High School, and she was just accepted to Clark Atlanta University for the fall.

Our students got a chance to meet Councilman Matt Carlucci at Mayor Deegan's Town Hall meeting, and he invited us to his office for a fireside chat about the students' perspective on local government and the conditions of their neighborhood.

All of them live on the north side.

We took photos with him, and I just wanted to tell him thank you for making himself available to them and for sharing information about the page program.

Please publicize that program more.

Thank you, Councilman Carlucci, and to your ECA Jamie.

I also want to acknowledge the council members who voted yes for resolution 2026 0356, a bill introduced by Councilman Jimmy Peluso of District 7 protecting historically red line neighborhoods from the jail of the future.

Thank you again to Councilman Matt Carlucci, Councilwoman Tyrona Clark Murray, Councilman Reggie Gaffney Jr., Councilman Rockman Johnson and Councilman Jimmy Pelusa who introduced the bill.

I think I speak on behalf of all of my neighbors.

When I say thank you, you showed us that what matters to us matters to you.

Thank you.

Next up, uh Lisa Dawkins.

And then Miss Ceres here after her.

Good evening.

I'm Lisa Dawkins.

My address is on file.

Scenic Jacksonville supports efficient development, but we don't want it to come at the expense of our natural environment, and therefore we have serious concerns with ordinance 2026-363.

The ordinance appears to expand beyond what the Florida statute allows by extending private review authority into zoning and site review functions, not just limited to the building code review.

We're especially concerned about the tree mitigation review.

As drafted, certified artibrists could approve mitigation plans while also financially benefiting from tree removal work on that same property, creating a clear conflict of interest that threatens the integrity of Jacksonville's tree protections and mitigation fund.

We respectfully urge the council to defer this legislation to require appropriately licensed professionals and exempt the tree mitigation and landscape review from the ordinance.

We plan on sending more detailed follow-up with the statutes to your email.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Ceres.

I know at the last city council meeting it was mentioned that you know a majority of court is held via Zoom.

That is absolutely incorrect.

There are some opportunities that are through Zoom, which is first appearance and then mental health court, that is through Zoom, and attorneys can do a motion to appear by Zoom, but usually their clients are out of jail and they are private attorneys.

If you are a public defender who works as someone that goes for many of the people that are inmates at our jail, they do not get the opportunity to do via Zoom, and during COVID, their case numbers skyrocketed.

You might wonder how I would know this.

I actually used to work for the public defender's office, and I still know people there.

Um Mr.

Kofer and I did speak about this issue, and he agrees that that it is not smart to put the jail out at the P Farm anywhere that is in a far distance.

I am glad to hear that the you know consultants did speak to him a few weeks ago, so at least they are doing some movement there.

I just think it's really important you guys do know the facts that the jail should not be far from the courthouse.

The courthouse was over a billion dollars.

Let's make sure we're using it and not making our inmates and citizens have a more difficult time meeting with their public defenders and attorneys.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Addison Patrick, and then the five after that.

Please go ahead and come on down.

Ronnie Burris, Daniel Kersey, Monica Gold, Lydia Bell, and Shane Trimblay.

Is Addison Patrick here?

Okay.

Miss Patrick.

Good evening, everyone.

Um, so we were out there talking about the um the freedom to garden address, please, Miss Patrick.

Oh, I'm sorry, Addison Patrick addresses on file.

Um, I want to mention zoning laws are too complicated here.

We talk about a lot of things in zoning, seems to get in the way.

Um I am not in support of 2026-0489 regarding the homelessness committee and their sort of asking for extensions.

I'll explain why at a later time.

Um, I want to support voluntary association here.

There's a good model out of Washington DC.

Ums.org is an organization that does a whole lot with homelessness, and they do that voluntarily with private donations, and that's something that I'm seriously looking into with other people in the community on how to make that happen.

In terms of the housing shortage, which and housing issues across the board, a very important issue right now.

Just want to bring attention to the um the ship and noticing all of the housing bills and things on this agenda.

We're rushing to spend all of this money before the state pulls it back.

We need to be more effective with how we spend our money so we can spend what's actually being allocated to us.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Ronnie Burris.

And then Daniel Kersey will be after Mr.

Burris.

Hello, my name is Ronnie Burris, and I'm uh my address is on file, and I'm the business manager of local 630.

Lyanna and all of you have heard from me talk about the situation that we currently are experiencing with negotiations for a year.

We've been in negotiations.

But what I want to talk to you also about is tonight is that I'm not just a business manager.

I came to work for the city of Jacksonville slash JA.

August 26, 1983.

I retired May 1st, 2010.

So I live the life of an employee of JEA.

I was offered the job as business manager in 2015.

I came back to work.

I came to work as a the business manager, and I know, and I you've heard me tell you that how important these people are.

The people that I represent are to this city.

But when we sit down to negotiate a contract, we take you into consideration as the governing body, we take the public into consideration, and we also take in the public, because they everybody pays that bill, and so it's important to us that.

Thanks, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Burst.

Daniel Kerzy, you're next.

And then Monica Gold.

Good evening.

My name is Daniel Kerzy, address on file.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you all and your attention this evening.

I'm a field coordinator with Launa's regional organizing department.

We cover nine states.

I work closely with local 630 and the hardworking women and men that are highly skilled professionals dressed in orange here in the back of the room.

As you've heard, JEA and Layuna are at an impasse in negotiations largely regarding wages.

I've worked with union members around the region and around the country, and I can tell you the situation with Layuna and JA is not that complicated.

Our members and the workforce aim to close an ongoing pay disparity.

The situation is our members perform nearly identical tasks and duties as some other employees with the utility, except our folks earn between five and nineteen dollars an hour less per hour.

The special magistrate process begins here in a couple of weeks to address this impasse.

After that, this council decides what happens next.

What we're asking is simple.

Please look at the facts.

The proposal on the table is reasonable, and what we're asking is that you recognize that Jacksonville deserves a utility whose workforce feels respected, and before long, this council is gonna be able to make that happen.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Next up, Monica Gold, and then Lydia Bell.

Hello.

Hello, my name is Monica Gold.

My address is on file.

I've just included concluded my seventh year teaching in Duval County Public Schools.

I've been an ESC teacher, an English language arts teacher, and an ESOL teacher, and this year I was honored to be a district finalist or teacher of the year.

When I began working at my school, it was deemed a turnaround school, meaning it had a failing grade.

My school is now just points away from being a B school.

I would attribute this growth to the teacher retention at my school, and I would attribute the teacher retention to the mill rate referendum.

The teachers in my building are some of the smartest, most resourceful, and multi-talented people I know.

They could successfully pursue any career path, yet they have elected to teach year after year, despite Florida being last in the country for teacher pay.

Please show up in a meaningful way for your public school teachers and students.

Also, as a proud union member and building steward, I extend my solidarity to my union siblings here tonight, demanding better wages and conditions.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Lydia Bell.

Good evening, Lydia Bell.

Address is on file.

On my way down, I asked myself, what would make a better Jacksonville?

And I think a better Jacksonville will be elected officials, better elected officials.

Connor Collin is sitting in jail, doing 60 days in jail.

Three years probation for coming to a city council meeting where he almost got his snake broken.

It is a shame that you have allowed this to happen.

And then last week you all voted on the resolution to not uh place a jail in the redlining area.

You say let the process pass.

Process already passed.

You already paid 75 million dollars for people dying over there in the north side.

You already brought a morgue over there.

You already brought all the little stores over there.

So the process has already passed.

What you could have done is stop the redlining process of black uh people being uh having a jail over there.

There is no place on the north side.

If you really wanted to say this is what's gonna happen, you pay 750,000 to an outside source where you should have got somebody from Jacksonville.

Then you're gonna say, well, they selected the north side.

Then you're gonna say, well, if they selected the north side, it has to be over on the north side.

Then you're gonna side vote.

Then the jail will be over there on the north side.

But like I said last time, we need the parliament because if you're gonna bring that jail on north side, we're gonna turn this mother out.

Next up, Shane Trimblay and then the five after Shane, Neil Hendrix, Wells Todd, Dragon Beloit, Ryan Delaney, and Ashley McKenzie.

Go ahead, Mr.

Trimble.

Shane Trembloy address on file.

Um I'm here today to speak about uh my concerns about safety and free speech and also a waste of city resources.

For anyone who is not aware, you can go to jackspsn.org/slash free conner.

That's Connor with one end to see a video of him getting brutalized in these chambers.

That same person, Connor Collie is in jail right now.

Uh Connor's not only an innocent man, uh, he's a union member, he serves the community, he feeds the homeless.

Uh, upon his trial, we were able to get 50 character letters speaking to the goodness of Connor Collie.

Um, Connor was made an example of um that night, and in his trial, uh, made an example of what happens when you speak against this council, not for doing anything actually wrong.

Um, and that example shows us that you can get 60 days in jail and three years of probation.

Uh, instead of recognizing the real issue, which is uh violent officers serving as sergeant of arms in these chambers, officer Aliaga in particular, who has a previous domestic violence injunction against him.

Uh, instead of the real issue, um, the city council uh added insult to injury by requesting a ban of Connor from City Council chambers.

Jason Teal did this specifically.

Uh, interesting that he's an attorney, and this is a flagrant uh constitutional violation of Connor's rights.

Um, this year long trial is also a huge waste of money.

Thank you.

Neil Hendricks.

Neil Hendricks.

My address is on file.

Uh I'm here today to show my support for Connor Collie.

As he is currently wrongfully serving his sentence of 60 days with time served, three years of probation, an abundance of court fees and fines on top of 150 community service hours, all being ordered to stay a thousand feet away from the cop who grabbed and flipped him over a set of chairs.

60 days of being completely uprooted and removed from society due to bogus and trumped up charges for speaking out against something.

People are too coddled to acknowledge it.

That's something being the genocidal ethnic cleansing and ongoing erasure of the Palestinian people, their land, and all living things that have called Palestine home for decades.

Two weeks ago was my first time attending a city council meeting.

What I saw is not surprising, but largely disappointing.

Playing on your phones, leaving your seats, eating, deep size, rolling your eyes, while having sidebar conversations as your constituents bring to you their thoughts and concerns for what we believe is best for our city.

If you want to keep your seat, I highly suggest you start looking at us.

Highly suggests that I highly suggest you start looking at us when we speak to you and pay us the attention that we deserve because we put you in these seats and we will have no problem snatching that seed from underneath you.

The hard working people of Jackson will deserve better.

Thank you.

Next up, Wells Todd.

My name is Wells Todd.

The question here is the Todd address, please.

On file.

The question here is who does the city council work for?

You as a city council members need to have town hall meetings to support the one mill.

Just the fact that teachers are struggling to make ends meet shows the rot that is the economic system that we live under.

Is the needs of the teachers and children more important than the developer class?

Because it seems like that's who you favor in this town.

When teachers have to work two or more jobs to make ends meet, when they have to go into their pockets to buy supplies for their kids, that really shows the economic situation that we live in in this country, and it's happening all over the country.

When I look around at different countries that have free education, that have universal health care.

Those countries put the needs of the people first, not the needs of the rich.

You talk about taxes, tax the rich.

Dragon Beloit.

And then Ryan Delaney and Ashley McKenzie.

Hi everyone, Dragon Beloy address on file.

I've got a couple of topics I want to hit on today, so I'm just gonna list them real quick.

One, I have seven flock cameras within a half mile of my house.

I cannot leave my house without being tracked by a private corporation that we know not only uses their Raven systems to track the voices and speech, but also to use AI assisted facial recognition data to keep a model of you and your habits and activities.

And I'm freaked out by that still.

Um free Connor Collie.

That was crazy.

I've never seen a guy get flipped over a chair and then arrested for battery before, but I guess that's what battery is.

I'm shocked they didn't charge with battery to the chair.

Um, and finally, uh, love the garden thing.

I would have talked to Mr.

Arias personally, but I had just too much to say to everybody.

Um Freedom of the Garden Act, very good.

Uh corruption here, very bad.

I think that it's really sad that we have a bill that should one bill shouldn't be there.

We know that that bill got passed because there's a democrat mayor now, right, guys?

Like, like let's just be real.

Um, but secondarily, it really disappoints me that we have an anti-corruption measure that could have been put in place, and we didn't put it there.

Uh, I maybe you guys think that the ethics board is doing well enough right now, but I mean, the fact that the current president has a couple of investigations open.

Let's just measure that one.

See you guys, and after Mr.

Delaney, it'll be Ashley McKenzie.

Brian Delaney address on file.

I'm here representing the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network.

Uh I am here to uh inform the city council that it is their obligation to remove Aliaga as a sergeant of arms at City Council.

This is because Aliaga's continued presence in these chambers will be a uh clear violation of Connor Cawley's First Amendment right.

Uh after Judge Borello on the recommendation of uh Mr.

Teal had him uh sentenced to stay 1,000 feet away from Officer Aliaga that has effectively uh represented itself as a way to bar Connor Collie from these meetings, which he has a First Amendment right to attend.

You can be upset that this situation is present.

You can say that you don't want to remove Aliaga as a sergeant of arms of city council.

The only people to blame in this situation are Judge Burrello and Mr.

Teal for making that decision and trying to use a backdoor attempt to flagrantly violate the First Amendment rights of Connor Cawley.

Uh I would also like to say that I want to support uh the demands put forth by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.

We need mental health training and we need mental health professionals uh to handle mental health crises, and I think we need to stop playing games with our JEA employees.

They break their backs to make the city work and they deserve fair pay.

Next up, Ashley McKenzie, and then the next group come on down.

Jamie Travis Leonard, Felix Von Venture, Avery Holbrook, Sarah Haddad, Dina Zacharia, and Sarah, I believe that's Sarah Mousim.

Uh Ashley, go ahead.

Ashley McKenzie address on file.

It's evident now more than ever that city council members uphold an almost unanimous commitment to attacking the constitutional rights of their constituents.

In the case of my friend Connor Collie, a judge used Jason Teal's testimony to ban Connor from being within a thousand feet of officer Aliaga, a ruling that effectively restricts Connor from exercising his right to public discourse at City Hall whenever Aliaga is present since he serves as your sergeant of arms.

This weaponization of an officer's presence is a destructive measures of Connor's right to free speech.

Now I want to compare Connor's character to the heavy handiness of his sentencing.

Fifty people wrote letters calling Connor a compassionate and caring human who spends his time advocating for better living conditions for everyone sitting in these chambers and fighting against the genocide of the Palestinian people, which is at odds with the pro-Israel stance this council has cemented itself in.

City Council, the judges and JSO's response, false testimonies by city council members during the trial, 60 days in jail, three years' probation, and a year ago being thrown over a row of chairs by Aliaga.

The city council followed TK Waters' narrative to make an example out of Connor and Leah Grady, two glowing members of the community.

Meanwhile, the officer they protect has a history of domestic violence and citizens' complaints for harassment.

Community members who were here on May 27, 2025 know the truth.

The whole chamber was clapping.

JSO targeted two organizers for their political views, and the city council did nothing but feel the flames.

You are complicit because you one habitually refused to speak out against JSO's brutality, whether it's against Connor, William McNeil, or the murder of Charles Faggard.

You also help JSO attack free speech in this very chamber.

And three, thank you.

Next up, Miss Leonard.

Good evening, City Council members.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

My address is on file.

This feels taller than usual.

So I want to start by with some thanks.

I'd like to thank everybody that visited the Trout River Food Park a few weeks ago.

That's by my house.

I love going there.

Shout out to Mixons with Shea if you want some good fried chicken.

I also want to thank council members, Arius, Matt Carlucci, and Clark Murray for hosting some uh community public comment opportunities last Friday.

I attended both and also for uh Councilmember Salem for sneaking in at the end of one of them.

We appreciate you showing up, even if it's just for a little bit.

Now on to what I think are some priority items.

Um, JEA, so I love that you said there's no corruption trust, but uh what up, bro?

Hey, I owed a big favor to a friend and opted to put him on the GEA board as your term is expiring.

Not sure if you wanted to stay.

If I need to do this for my guy.

Tab is on me when we link up next.

Yes, how could we at Ever suspect corruption or favoritism or anything from this council?

Goodness, what an odd thing for the public to question.

So, uh, with that as well, please support fair compensation for our water and water waste division members.

Layuna local 630.

They are currently negotiating with JEA and apparently hitting a bunch of roadstops, which I think you all could help him with.

Thank you.

Thank you, Felix Bon Venture.

And then Avery Holbrook after Mr.

Felix.

My name is Felix Bonventry, and my address is on file.

Uh, first, the JTA is about to get rid of free bus rides for university students.

What's up with that?

Uh students, we're not the ones who cost the city a bunch of money.

Most of us don't have cars, but we still deserve to be able to get around.

It's not fair.

Uh, next up, Connor Collie.

Connor Collie and Leah Grady did nothing wrong, they're facing charges and jail time anyways.

And Connor has been effectively prevented from coming back to public comments at city council meetings by the restraining order from Officer Aliaga.

I'm sure that everyone up there, all of you all of y'all, you're looking forward to Connor's release.

So you don't have to hear about it anymore anymore.

Let me put that fear to rest.

We're going to be out here next council meeting and the meeting after that and after that.

We're not going to shut up about it until something changes.

Because right now, an innocent man who did nothing wrong is at serving time in jail and about to is about to get stuck with three years of probation for what exactly?

Speaking up for Palestine.

This is a clearly politically motivated, and frankly, it is evil to sit here and not only not only support the genocide that continues to occur and uh say nothing against it, and actively arrest and brutalize and police the people who do say something against it.

Uh, that's all.

Free Palestine and free Connor.

Avery Holbrook.

And then Sarah Haddad will be after.

Avery Holbrook, address on file.

Um a few weeks ago, Connor Collie was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 150 hours of community service, and a 1,000-foot restraint order from the man who assaulted him.

Officer and domestic abuser, Aliaga.

And I think nine percent of the people in this room agree me.

That is a completely unjust sentencing, and that this officer should not be on JSO at all anymore.

He nearly killed Connor, who had done absolutely nothing other than stand up and clap.

And I know you guys do not agree with him at all for some absurd reason.

You think that opposing a genocide is bad, but that doesn't mean that it is okay for you to try to step over his first amendment rights.

Second of all, we need to change how cops work in this whole city.

It is not viable to spend six hundred million dollars a year on our state-sponsored KKK while we let people be homeless, we let them not have food, they cannot afford gas, they're not able to get jobs.

But you think that making people shoot each other is more important.

My address is on file.

I'm here representing the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, and I'm also here to speak out about Connor Collie, who was arrested in these chambers a year ago.

I'm sure you're all familiar with the case by now.

Your city council's sergeant of arms, Aliaga Ruiz, brutalized Connor, and yet Connor is the one sitting in jail.

Connor Collie received 50 individual letters speaking to his good character, and he was still sentenced harder than the state even asked for.

60 days in jail, 150 hours community service, and three years of probation for what?

This is what happens when upstanding citizens want to speak up for their community.

It's just plain wrong.

Now compare that to the type of citizen that Aliaga Ruiz is that he has a history of domestic violence, multiple community complaints against him, and he gets to continue this trend of violence in his work in these chambers on Connor, and then play the victim as well.

Along with that, sentencing the judge rules ruled that Connor cannot be within a thousand feet of the officer that brutalized him, which effectively bans Connor from coming back to City Council.

This is blatant silencing of one of the strongest community fighters this council has ever seen.

So I ask you today to no longer employ officers with a history of violence.

There are too many cases of violent officers using excessive force.

Let's weed out the bad apples and start out with Aliaga Ruiz.

We demand the city council remove Aliaga as an officer of arms and let Connor speak.

Next up, Dina Zacharia.

And then Sarah, I believe the last name is Hussein.

Dina Zacharia, address on file.

I'm here to exercise my first amendment right, the same right that was violated on May 27th of last year when JSON under the purview of city council attacked free speech in these chambers.

This whole room was rowdy, but two outspoken citizens were miraculously targeted.

The only thing setting Connor Collie and Leah Grady apart were that they were regular attendees speaking out for their community.

And this comes to no surprise when the city council continuously bloats the JSO budget and waste city money on Connor and Leah's trials and were left over policed with things like public infrastructure, mental health resources, and union contracts underfunded.

In the same vein, the same city council before us condoned JSO, grabbing Connor by the neck, throwing him to the ground just for being a concerned citizen, for which he's now sitting in the county jail for 60 days.

He is an upstanding citizen, a union member, a good neighbor, and there are people in front of me who have done their best to make an example out of him.

I sat through both trials, and it was clear this case was never about Leah or Connor or quote unquote following the rules.

It was about silence people silencing people who speak out, like any one of us here at public comment.

And you're allowing officers with a history, a record of citizens' complaints and domestic violence injunctions like Officer Aliaga to consistently work at these meetings.

We demand that you let Connor speak and that Officer Aliaga be removed as a sergeant of arms.

Aliaga's presence prevents the right to free speech, and he undoubtedly poses a risk to public safety.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up is Sarah Hussein, and then our final speaker cards.

Please come on down.

Deborah Patrick, Constance Devon, Etta Ettlinger, Lindsay Bauer, Denise Cook, and John Nooney.

Sarah, go ahead.

I'm here today as a concerned community member and friend of Connor Collie and Leah Grady, who both were falsely convicted of bogus charges for exercising their First Amendment rights.

Connor is sitting in the Duval County jail as we speak without sufficient access to drinking water because Jason Teal and TK Waters, along with members of this council, wanted to make an example out of him.

As evidenced by the 50 glowing character letters Connor received during his trial, he is an upstanding community member, neighbor, and friend who dedicates his time to feeding the unhouse and speaking out against injustice.

Connor's been condemned to 60 days in abhorrent conditions in jail on top of three years probation, while the city throws a billion dollars towards a new jail and continues to expand JSO's budget instead of improving conditions in the existing one or creating a mental health response team.

This empowers JSO to continue to brutalize people like Connor Collie and kill people in mental health crises like Rashad Martin.

Make no mistake, the attacks on Connor and Leah are attacks on all of our constitutional rights in an attempt to silence pro-Palestine voices in the community from speaking up against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Connor's sentencing mandates he stay a thousand feet away from Aliaga, the officer who dragged him by his neck over a row of chairs in these very chambers, effectively banning him from city council upon his release.

Aliaga's presence in these chambers is being weaponized to attack Connor's right to free speech on top of being brutalized by Officer Aliaga.

He is being silenced and effectively barred from chambers.

If anyone should be barred from these chambers, it should be Officer Aliaga Ruiz, who, on top of his violent conduct towards Connor, also has a documented history of domestic violence.

He should be removed from his position as sergeant at arms if he poses a clear threat to our safety.

Deborah Patrick.

Okay, Constance Devon.

Constance Devon.

Okay.

Etta Ettlinger.

Okay.

Lindsay Boyer.

And then I see Miss Cook and I see Mr.

Nuni.

Y'all will be our last three speakers.

So, colleagues, if you're in the green room, please uh make your way to your seats.

Good evening, Lindsay Boyer, address on file.

I want to begin by voicing my support for the demands of union members and the JCAC.

My remaining remarks regard my dear comrade Connor Collie.

Uh I'm also a member of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network.

Following the egregious miscarriage of justice, sentencing Connor to 60 days in jail, probation, and community service.

Connor is an admirable individual with an uncommon dedication to his community.

This is behavior more than a few members of this council, really of our whole city might try emulating.

This ban on uh him staying a thousand feet away from Aliaga is a blatant attempt to silence his voice here in what should be a House of the People, violating his First Amendment rights.

Furthermore, retaining Aliaga, who has a domestic violence injunction against him in another county as sergeant at arms in this chamber is deeply offensive to victims of domestic violence.

It is insulting to the citizens of Jacksonville and frankly also the women serving in this chamber that we are expected to entrust our safety to a known abuser who openly brutalizes citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

Let Connor speak, stop political repression, free Connor and Free Palestine.

Thank you.

Denise Cook address on file.

Just real quick, there's a lot going on.

We had a lot of activity this evening.

It's great to see, isn't it?

It's great to see that we have this opportunity and this ability.

Million referendum.

We want to make sure that the free garden act is looked at entirely.

But I also want to talk about zoning.

I want to talk about agricultural zoning.

I want to talk about the fact that we are putting in new development next to our agricultural zoning, and are we ensuring that we are keeping our 200 feet guidelines that are implemented in our Duval County regulations and zoning guidelines for livestock and penned animals?

You know, how does that change?

We've got a, you know, we've got a fairly new subdivision that's next to a gun range, an outdoor gun range.

Is that really our best use of zoning guidelines?

So I think that's something that we really need to talk about.

And before we push through things like 2026, 0365, 2026, 0, 366, 2020, 2090, 2091, 2089.

You know, let's take a look and make sure that the adjoining areas are going to not be impacted negatively by what the growth that we're trying to put in place.

Appreciate your time.

Thank you, Ms.

Cook.

John Nooney.

Hello.

I am John J.

Nooney.

Name and address is on file.

Alright, a shout out.

RD, the real doge, Ron Davis, 600, WBOB, 69, weak days.

President Trump, Governor DeSantis, James Otmeyer, Kevin Carico, Nick Allen, Joe Cardolucci, Charles Barr, Blake Bass, Blake Harper, Wells Todd, Dr.

Johnson, Pardon Nooney, 2024 0107, 2024 0325.

That's septic tanks.

All right, support the Free Garden Act.

It's great.

CIP, Citrus in Pottsburgh.

Wendy Kahn, OED.

All right.

Agenda item 88, page 41, 2026 0396.

You know, we're making a movie.

You know, you're gonna be voting on it.

Okay, just down to 40 seconds.

All right.

If you have a shirt, you're in the movie.

And uh just going forward, you know.

Uh right now, you know, we've got not only this legislation for the movies, but we also have three other trust accounts.

Okay, 2026 004, that's parks, gonna be making a donation to that one.

We've got 2026 0463, that's veterans donating to that one.

2009 442, that's the artificial reef trust fund donating to that one.

Tomorrow morning, FWC.

Fishing with Brady, FWC, Fish Wildlife Commission, State of Florida Tourism.

Mr.

President, we have a number of cards of uh those that did not wish to speak.

I'll read into the record now.

John Dooley, free to garden act, Xavier Green, Jacksville needs a mental health clinical response team.

Constance Silv, I believe this is Katino.

Silviera, the city council must renew remove Aliaga.

Sarah Posey, fire Aliaga, Vanessa Alvarez, let Connor Collee speak.

Etta Etlinger, kill the tax, I believe is her comment there.

Uh Constance Devon was here on the Millage referendum.

And Deborah Patrick vote for 2026 387.

That concludes public comment.

Alright, looks like we have someone who believes they have a card maybe in the deck.

Sir, did you fill out a green public speaker card?

I filled out a card.

My name is John Grant Dooley.

Were you speaking on a particular bill?

Did you fill out a blue card or did you fill out a green public comment card?

Council President, I have a card here from Mr.

John Dooley.

Alright, I think it changes his mind.

Go ahead, sir.

You're recognized.

I'm here to support the Garden Act.

Name and address.

Yes, sir.

I live on Meyer Street, right near Five Points.

I've lived there 50 years.

I've had a garden for 45 years.

And gardens, what they do is they bring communities together.

When we're working in the garden, people stop all the time and we tell them you're welcome to come and pick.

So I know you all have common sense.

I'm glad I don't have your job.

But gardens really do help communities thrive.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

President, it's now time for public hearings.

Going back to page 15.

Council members should declare any ex parte communications.

Anyone wishing to speak on the following bill should have completed a blue speaker card, and you will be allowed three minutes to speak.

You may state your name and addresses on record.

Uh, but you are encouraged to be more specific with your location as that may impact the weight given to your comments.

Like public comment, a speaker may be invited to green room for further discussion at a council members' discretion.

Mr.

Teal, please read the bills.

2026 372, 373, 374, 376, 395, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 463, 466, 2026, 122, 123, 126, 127, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 311, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, and 371.

All these public hearings are open.

I'm 25, 2026, 0372.

I have two speaker cards.

Jamie Travis Leonard does not wish to speak but opposes Samantha Searies, does wish to speak.

Samantha series address on file.

I just wanted to ask a couple of questions about this one because I did look online and it doesn't have much information.

So I was just wondering what are they planning to do with this section.

I know it would be nice to have a little bit of discussion.

I know you guys talk about a lot of different things up here, but usually it's not about rezoning.

So if you guys could, I don't know, discuss or have the person that's requesting this give some information because I saw the North C Pack recommend denial, but I didn't see a letter or anything about it.

So I'd just love some extra information.

That's really all I have to say.

I'm not gonna take the whole three minutes.

I just wanted to know like what's going on with this.

Thank you.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearing closed.

I'm 26, 2026, 373.

I have four speaker cards, Michael O'Neill Senior, Jerry Mahani, Helen O'Neal, and Deborah Mahaney.

So please come on down if I called your name, and you'll get up to three minutes each.

Who is uh speaking first?

I think the first name I called was Michael O'Neill.

Go ahead, sir.

Good evening.

My name is Michael O'Neill and I live at one two nine nine Norwich Road, which is in the backyard of the local restaurant.

The local has uh moved to change their PUD to increase their seating from 70 to 12 seats, and also to serve alcoholic to serve uh state liquor license.

Um my wife and I have lived 41 years in the house directly behind where the local is located, and they're in violation of their current PUD, which was granted in 2017.

The PUD provided that they can serve outside, which is in the backyard of the restaurant right outside our house.

They can serve outside so long as the existing oak tree vegetation buffer and ten foot concrete wall remain.

If removed, they will be replaced by buffers equal to or greater than the existing wall and plant material.

In the pictures that are in your packet, you'll see that 10-foot wall lying on the ground.

It collapsed uh Christmas Eve of 2020.

They've made no arrangements whatsoever to increase the buffer that was lost when that wall fell.

The only thing there now is a privacy fence, which we put up on our property.

So also they contend that they have 37 right-of-way parking spaces for that property.

The if you look at their map, the parking spaces are basically in Miramar Shopping Center, which is a Slam and Enterprises property.

If you look at, for example, uh parking space number thirty, it's a black car, and then right on the other side of it is a white car.

There's something in the middle.

Well, what's in the middle are the signs that are in your packet saying parking for shopping center patrons only, patrons of the local are not permitted to park here.

Towing in force, also Slayman Enterprises parking for patrons of Miramar Center only.

All others will be towed away at owners' expense.

So they're using basically areas that the patrons' cars will be towed to justify adding 50 seats.

Thank you, sir.

Next up, Jerry, and I can't tell if this is Mahoney or Mahaney.

But I'm sure I'll I'll hear what it is in just a second.

Three minutes, yes.

My name is Jerry Mahaney.

I live at 4562 San Jose Boulevard, right next to next door to the local restaurant.

I'm a seventy-five-year-old Vietnam veteran.

Sofacle cancer survivor.

I sleep in a recliner due to my surgeries in my living room, so I'm right next door to the local, and I hear everything going on.

They have an employee that cranks his motorcycle up around 9 40, runs it for about five minutes.

They run their pressure washer, leaf blowers at midnight, two o'clock, three o'clock, four o'clock, six o'clock in the morning.

Their customers park all over my yard.

They've even parked in my driveway.

They park across the street at the um clear spot, wind Dixie parking lot where there's signs everywhere saying parking is for Miramore Center only.

Walk across the street, walk through my yard, and there's a path to their restaurant.

The restaurant, its employees, and its customers have not been good neighbors to the homeowners and to the businesses across the street.

I oppose any kind of uh them expanding this restaurant.

I would uh appreciate it if they would just move to another neighborhood.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next up, Helen O'Neill.

Uh good evening.

My name's Helen O'Neill and I live at 1299 Norwich Road, been there for over 40 years.

The Archley neighborhood was built in the late 1940s and early 1950s and is a low density residential neighborhood.

It's a friendly, quiet neighborhood with many young families and children and grandchildren.

I would like to address the issue of o of noise coming from the local restaurant.

In the 2017 rezoning to PUD issues and restrictions under permitted uses for 5C, it states and I quote, a restaurant shall not employ outside amplified music or other forms of outside amplified entertainment at any time on any given day or evening during the week, unquote.

One way local gets around this is by providing indoor music and leaving the back door open so that the patrons outside can be entertained and we can hear it through the closed windows in our house.

I've called the uh them multiple times and complained.

I've called the restaurant and not the police non-emergency phone number because the attorney for the applicant in the 2017 um PED told us that after the meeting to contact him, not our city council representative, if there were any problems with noise, because the local wants to be a good neighbor.

That's what we were told, and it's not been the case.

Also, in section A, paragraph E, of the permitted uses in state it states, and I quote again, the restaurant hours of operation shall be no later than 10 p.m.

on any given day of the week, no later than 7 p.m.

for service in an outdoor dining area, and no later than 8 30 p.m.

for seating and quote seating or end quote.

They're supposed to close the outside by 8 30.

Um this is a big problem due to the fact uh the 830 curfew is seldom observed, and often patrons are allowed up until 9 or thereafter sometimes.

It needs to be a for enforced, especially if there's will be potentially 50 more patrons and a full bar.

Open till midnight.

Lastly, I'm asking for a deferral for the June 16th, 2026 LUZ meeting to give us an opportunity to obtain additional information.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, ma'am.

Deborah Mahoney Mahaney.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Um my name's Deborah Mahaney.

I live at 4562 San Jose Boulevard.

I'm right next door to the local.

We've lived in our house for 40 years, and we've had several changes of the types of businesses around us, but it's been it's been good up to this point.

I want to say that I'm not opposed to the restaurant's existence, and I appreciate that the local businesses do contribute to the community.

However, my concern is with the scale of changes being requested that the impact those changes will have on the surrounding residential neighborhood.

This property at the local is very unique.

It is not surrounded by commercial property at all.

In fact, it's bordered on three sides by single family houses.

So we have had to adjust our lives to kind of deal with this whole situation.

We experience the side effects of the restaurant every day in a way that most customers and visitors do not.

A good example might be one day I was looking out my front window and I noticed somebody walking through my yard.

She was drunk.

At a Wednesday afternoon at four o'clock, she pulled her pants down and went to the bathroom in my driveway.

Then she pulled her pants up, woke it across the street, and one of the local employees brought her meal to her and she left.

I called the cops, but they didn't get there on time.

Another diet, I saw somebody in the afternoon changing clothes in my yard in the middle of the day.

Cars are flying by.

There's kids in the cars, doesn't matter.

I addressed him and went up to him and said, excuse me, what are you doing?

He goes, Oh, it's okay.

I work at the local.

It's okay, it's okay.

I don't think it's okay.

I don't like it at all.

Um, so this this application that you're that you're looking at is more than just a request for a liquor license.

It is a request to increase the intensity of use by expanding seating capacity, allowing full liquor service, and extending out operation hours until midnight, midnight.

Each of those changes has an impact, but together they represent a substantial change in the scale of the restaurant than what was originally proposed.

As neighbors were concerned about the increased traffic, increased parking demand, and the effect of late night activities on the nearby homes.

A midnight closing means that customers leaving the proper property later at night, there'll be door slamming, people talking, engines starting, just all kinds of craziness.

And these are not theoretical concerns, they're real.

These are the kind of impacts that we've had to all deal with up to this point.

Um I would ask for you to consider that you're agreeing to put in a hundred and twenty-seat restaurant and a restaurant that has 26 parking spots, 26.

Anybody else that wants to park has to cross a very busy road.

Um, this is incompatible with what was we were looking at years ago.

Um, and I think compatibility with the existing neighborhoods is an important planning principle, and I do believe proposal pushes the site beyond that was appropriate for that location.

Thank you.

I have no more speaker cards, public hearing is closed, and your council member, Mr.

Vice President Alec Carlucci would like to meet everyone who just spoke on this issue in the Bob Johnson green room.

I'm 27, 2026 374.

I have one speaker card, Miss Jamie Travis Leonard does not wish to speak but opposes this ordinance.

No, we're sorry.

Public hearing is closed.

Just a reminder to the colleagues we have a quorum right now, barely at 14 with Mr.

Carlucci in the green room.

Once Mr.

Lenin exits for a personal matter, we will be locked in with 14.

So anyone that has to get up, we'll have to shut down and pause until we have a quorum.

Just a heads up for everybody.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Item 28, 2026, 376.

I have two speaker cards.

Mr.

John Nooney does not wish to speak but opposes Miss Jamie Travis Leonard does wish to speak.

Come on down, Miss Leonard.

Sorry.

I'm short.

I'm sorry.

I'm just trying to get a mic at my level.

Uh good evening, city council members.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

My address is on file.

So I do tentatively support this ordinance.

Um I came because I was concerned about some of the language in the original bill.

I'm assuming it's going to be updated, but for instance, on page three, line uh 15 through 17, there's something removed, but it doesn't say reserved.

Whereas if you look on page three, lines uh 28 through 30, it has reserve and that language is removed.

This is in relation to permissible uses by exception.

I'm assuming the reserved means that additional language is going to be added to the bill to uh give more details on what exactly would be um permissible uses by exception, but in case that language isn't going to be added, I would like to know some examples of what that classification would be and/or what the plan for the city council is to address that.

Uh my other um thought on this is I had assumed when I saw this come through that this was about adding in some additional classifications.

I know the last few LUZ meetings and city council meetings.

There's been some contention around um low density residential and medium residential medium uh medium residential apologies.

Medium density residential, I'm sorry, that was very hard for some reason.

Uh and I believe there was a recommendation to add in like a low medium to address where there might be some gaps in the classification.

I was just curious if that is being discussed with this.

Um, thank you for some of the head wavings I've seen.

Uh so then I would recommend maybe bringing that into the discussion since we are making updates if possible.

Like I said, I know that's been some contention, especially in LUZ about how some things are classified.

So just as a constituent that cares about the development of the city, that's a recommendation I have.

So thank you all for your time.

We'll take a few more.

Thank you.

I have no more speaker cards.

This public hearing is closed, and additional public hearing will be 623 26.

I'm 29, 2026, 395.

I have no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

I move the amendment.

I have a motion second on the amendment.

All in favor of the amendment signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

We've got a pause.

Someone stood up.

Is that right?

Mr.

Salem, we need you to sit before we can vote.

Thank you, Dr.

Salem.

All in favor, did we vote?

No.

All in favor of the amendment signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Any police say nay, the amendment carries.

The bill as amended.

I have a motion second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and accord your vote.

14 years, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0395.

Item 30, 2026, 0440.

I have three speaker cards.

Corey Goff, Ryan Goff, and Gary Goff.

Uh, come on up, gentlemen.

Uh, whoever gets there first can kick it off.

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Corey Goff.

Uh, I currently reside at 4558 Polaris Street, uh located in 32205.

Um, I am one of the owners of Perfect Rec Billiards alongside my father Gary and my brother Ryan.

For nearly 18 years, Perfec Billiards has probably served the Murray Hill community.

During that time, we've grown into a local gathering place and currently employ more than 35 people.

We're grateful for the support we received from our customers, neighbors, and the community over the years.

We are requesting your support for this zoning exception as it will allow us to continue investing in our business and improve our ability to serve the people of our community who have supported us for nearly two decades.

This exception will also create additional employment opportunities, allowing us to add jobs and continue contributing to the local economy.

We believe this project represents a positive impact in both our business and the Murray Hill community that we serve.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and support.

We appreciate the opportunity to continue growing and serve in Murray Hill for many years to come.

Thank you, sir.

And Ryan Goff and Gary Goff are here.

They support it, but they do not wish to speak.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearing is closed.

Item 31, 2026, 441, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 32, 2026, 442, one speaker cards to Mantha Series.

So we have the series address on file again.

I just want to ask some questions.

Obviously, I know we're not gonna discuss this right now, but I think maybe when you guys it does come in front of you that you want to vote and want to speak about it.

I think it's just important to understand what's going on here.

Again, I looked online, can't find that much information about what they're actually doing.

So I think maybe if we, you know, just ask a couple questions when they come up here when the representative does maybe an LUC, I guess.

Um, just to keep in mind, like what is going on here, like the one required tree to zero trees, the you know, the um landscape being down to zero, it's just kind of weird.

So I just want to know what's going on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 33 34 35 36 and 37 items 2026 443 444 445 446 447.

I have no speaker cards.

Oh, these public hearings are closed.

Item 38, 2026, 448, one speaker card, Jamie Travis Leonard.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Jamie Travis Leonard.

My address is on file.

So I do support this ordinance.

Um, I think the increase is valid and in a line with the statement that this amendment is necessary to accommodate the rising cost of new construction projects and to expand availability of affordable residential units.

I would also uh request that this council um look at affordability in our city.

We are continuing to see the housing costs rise, and it is affecting not just low income but incomes across the spectrum.

So that's really my only request with this.

Like I said, I do support it, and I hope it goes through.

Thank you.

Thank you.

No more speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 39, 2026, 449.

One speaker card, Miss Jamie Travis Leonard supports but does not wish to speak.

Public hearings closed.

Item 40, 2026, 0450.

Jamie Travis Leonard supports but does not wish to speak.

Public hearings closed.

Item 451, one speaker card.

Mr.

John Nooney does not wish to speak.

He did not check whether he supports or opposes this ordinance.

Public hearings closed.

I have no more speaker.

Oh, I do have one more speaker card, Mr.

President.

I believe you need to reopen the public hearing.

Open the public hearing.

Uh Jamie Travis Leonard does wish to speak on this one.

I will be quick.

I know we have a lot to go through tonight.

I don't get to come up and say I support a lot.

So in this case, I'm trying to be more proactive.

Oh, I'm so sorry, thank you.

Uh Jamie Travis Leonard, my address is on file.

Uh so I do support this.

Um, I looked at it.

I want to thank my council member for introducing it.

I think this is going to be a great opportunity for our community.

Uh, and I hope everything goes through.

Thank you.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

I move the emergency.

Got need a second.

Got a motion, second on the emergency.

All in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay, the emergency carries.

Move the bill as an emergency.

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

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot court to vote.

14 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0451 as an emergency.

I'm 42, 2026, 452.

I have two speaker cards.

Miss Jamie Travis Leonard.

And while she's coming up, Mr.

John Nooney supports but does not wish to speak.

This is my last time up here.

Uh Jamie Travis Leonard, my address is on file.

I wanted to come up and speak in support of this as well.

Thank you again to my councilman.

Uh for presenting this.

I also think this is a great opportunity for our community.

So I hope you it goes through and I appreciate you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

I move the emergency.

Got a motion second on the emergency.

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

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay, the emergency carries.

Move the substitute.

Got a motion and second on the substitute.

Voice vote.

All in favor of the substitute.

Say aye.

Aye.

And you post say nay.

Substitute carries.

I move the bill as an emergency as substituted.

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

No one's in the queue.

Open the ballot record your vote.

14 yay, zero nays.

By your action of approved 2026-0452 as substituted as an emergency.

Item 43, 2026, 0453.

One speaker card, John Nooney supports but does not wish to speak.

Public hearings closed.

Item 40.

I'm sorry, item 44, 2026 0454, as well as items 45, 46, and 47.

Uh hold on, let me back up.

Let's just do item 44, 2026, 0454.

I have no speaker card.

Public hearings closed.

Item 45, 2026, 455.

I do have one speaker card.

Mr.

John Nooney does not wish to speak, did not check whether he supports or opposes.

Public hearings closed.

Item 46 and 47, 2026, 456, 457.

I have no speaker cards.

Well, these public hearings are closed.

Item 48, 2026, 458.

One speaker card does not wish to speak.

John Nooney opposes this.

Public hearings closed.

Item 49, 2026, 0459, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 50, 2026, 460.

One speaker card, John Nooney supports, does not wish to speak.

Public hearings closed.

Item 51, 2026, 463, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Item 52, 2026, 466.

I have one speaker card, Mr.

John Nooney supports, does not wish to speak.

Public hearing is closed.

I move the emergency.

Motion and second on the emergency.

All in favor of the emergency signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed saying nay?

The mercy carries.

I 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.

I move the bill as an emergency as amended.

Motion a second on the bill as emergency as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

14 yay, zero nays.

By your action, you have passed 2026-0466 as an emergency as amended.

It's now time for public hearings on land use amendments and certain companion rezonings.

Item 53, 2026, 122.

I have no speaker cards.

Public hearing is continued until 623-26.

Item 53, 2026, 123.

I have one speaker card, does not wish to speak.

It's Jamie Travis Leonard, and she opposes this ordinance.

Public hearing will be continued to 623 26.

Item 55, 2026, 126.

One speaker card, Jamie Travis Leonard does not wish to speak, opposes this.

Public hearing will be continued until 623-26.

Item 56, 2026, 127.

I have one speaker card.

Jamie Travis Leonard opposes, does not wish to speak.

Public hearing will be continued till 623-26.

Item 57, 2026, 289.

One speaker card does wish to speak.

Miss Denise Cook.

Denise Cook address on file.

Just real quick, I wish we had a maybe instead of a oppose or or not oppose.

Um the concern is what I brought up in general comments that we are doing a lot of development in agricultural areas and areas that are zoned one way, and then the development will butt up against these properties, and how does that work?

This is a future land uh use map of 112 acres.

Um we spent about 45 minutes in CPAC last night to talk about 19 acres that are being developed in our area.

So we want I want I feel like education, and I talk about this often, that education of the zoning, education of how there's pushback on some of the zoning.

But it's a very convoluted process for most people to understand what this all means.

And I think you know, if there was some more talk about how we try to push back on the density, how we try to push push back on how many houses per acre, how we try to push back on tying into you know um public works that we would have a better opportunity and a better understanding of things.

So I just, you know, it's not that I oppose the growth, and I'm glad to see this as a future use.

Um, but I just want to make sure that we're doing um development of Jacksonville, all of Jacksonville with purpose, intention, and thoughtfulness, not just to develop something, especially when we don't have the infrastructure in place to support that.

I appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Cook.

I have no more speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Move the bill.

Got a motion and second on the bill.

I have no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

15 yes, 15 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0289.

Item 58, 2026, 290.

I have one speaker card.

Miss Denise Cook.

She opposes but does not wish to speak.

Public hearing is closed.

I move the amendment.

I have a motion second on the amendment on the amendment.

Councilmember Clark Murray.

All right.

All in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any posts say nay.

I didn't really hear that.

Let's say it again.

Uh all in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed say nay.

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

I have a motion and second on the bill as amended.

Councilwoman Clark Murray on the bill.

Thank you, President Carico.

I rise to express the wishes of the Southwest CPAC of the CPAC in which this particular zoning is also under.

And they desire that they oppose this application based on the fact that they have not seen any environmental impact study on the location.

And they are can they continue to be concerned about traffic in the area, that it is known to be a high traffic area, and adding more would cause more accidents and possibly more fatalities.

And they continue their objection to the concern concerning the total number and size of the requested lots.

The estimated 500 plus residences would potentially add an estimated 600 to 700 vehicles in at least twice a day, at least twice a day onto an already heavily trafficked norm Normandy Boulevard.

And so with this being said, I just want to express the wishes of the Southwest CPEC.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have uh President Elect Allen.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just missed the opportunity to rise to declare ex parte communications on 2026 0290 before we vote on the bill.

Um I discussed the issue with uh Miss Cindy Tremor yesterday, June 8th at 3 p.m.

by phone, and we'll make sure it's filed with the legislative services.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

No one else is in the queue.

We have moved the bill as amended, so please open the ballot and record your vote.

13 yes, one nay.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0290.

Item 59, 2026, 291.

I have no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

I move the bill.

Have a motion, second on the bill.

If no one in the queue, please open the ballot, record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0291.

Item 60, 2026, 292, no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

I move the bill.

Motion second on the bill.

No one in the queue, please open the ballot, record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0292.

I'm 61, 62, and 63, 2026, 293, 294, and 295.

I have no speaker cards.

All three of these items will be continued until 623-26.

And colleagues, I plan to leave in the next five minutes or so.

If anybody have needs a break, I can stay here for that so we don't have to uh break quorum, but this is my five-minute warning.

Uh, where are we now?

So we are on items 64, 2026, 296.

I have no speaker cards.

Public hearing is closed.

I move the bill.

I have a motion second on the bill.

Councilwoman Clark Murray.

You are recognized.

Thank you, President Carico for recognizing me.

I rise to declare ex parte.

I spoke with the applicant, Travis Moss on May 26th.

Well, around 64, which is not the quasi.

So no ex parte is needed.

Oh, I'm a little early.

Okay, just hold up.

All right.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

All right.

So we bill has been moved.

Thank you, sir.

Open the ball, record your vote.

15 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0296.

Item 65, no speaker cards.

No speaker cards.

Let's go to councilwoman Clark Murray.

All right.

Deja vu.

I rise to declare ex parte.

Once again, I spoke with Travis Moss on May the 26th during city council.

And we talked about how he proposed to use the existing building on the property.

He did not have a particular use at the time.

And I also informed him of the flooding issues that are associated with Sophia Street.

And once again, this legislation, I mean, this has been filed with legislative services.

Alright, no other speakers, public hearings closed.

I move the bill.

I have motion, second on the bill.

No one in the queue, please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

15 yay, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0297.

Thank you to our floor leader and welcome Mr.

Boylan.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And then moving on now to page 31, item number 66, 2026, 298.

I have no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Move the bill.

I have motion and second on the bill.

14 yay, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0298.

During now to item 67, 2026, 299.

I have no speaker cards.

Public hearings closed.

Move the bill.

I have motion second on the bill.

I have no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0299.

Public hearing will be continued to 623-26.

Item 69, 2026, 365.

I have one speaker card.

Denise Cook.

She opposes the bill but does not wish to speak.

Public hearing is closed.

An additional public hearing will be 623-26.

Sorry, Dr.

Johnson, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I was in queue for 2026-311.

Just wanted to rise to say earlier today we had a noticed meeting.

I know there were some questions about that and the target growth areas.

Uh I'm going to do a one-way communication colleagues to everyone so you have it.

We discussed it on LUZ, but so that everybody has it.

I know there were myriad meetings going on today.

I'll send it out once I get it from uh our team, our public information team, so that way maybe some of the questions that you have can get answered and we can move this on.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

All righty, thank you.

Mr.

Florida.

Item number 70, 2826, 366.

I have one speaker card, Denise Cook.

She opposes uh yes, she opposes this legislation, but does not wish to speak.

Public hearing is closed.

Turn to page number 33.

Hold on a second, I can get there.

Uh again, item 7171, 2026, 367.

I have one speaker card.

Denise Cook.

She does not wish to speak, but she also opposes this one.

Public hearings closed, and additional public hearing will be 623 26.

Item 72, 2026, 368.

I have one speaker card, questions only.

Chris Paul.

Public hearings closed.

Additional public hearing will be 623-26.

Item number 73, 20269, one speaker, one speaker card, folks Huxford.

I assume that's questions only.

Chris Paul.

Public hearings closed.

Additional public hearing will be 623 26.

Item number 74.

Assuming so it's not here.

All right.

Alright, public hearings closed.

And just a public hearing will be 623 26.

Item number 75, 2026, 371.

One speaker card, folks Huxford.

Uh he supports the bill.

Both of these supports, by the way, but does not wish to speak.

All right, Mr.

President.

Now we move on to third reading resolutions.

We've taken care of those.

We're gonna move on now to third reading ordinances.

We took up number 77, 78, 79.

Oh, I'm sorry, 79.

We need to postpone 77.

Oh, we didn't do 77.

76, we did.

Ah, got it.

I'm sorry.

I apologize.

Item number 77, 2026 327.

We need to move the finance amendment.

Finance substitute.

All right, I've got a motion second on the finance substitute.

Council President elect Howland.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I know we have the blue sheets in front of us, but uh for the record, Ms.

Nephopolis, would you explain the finance substitute, please?

Yes, through the council president to the council.

Um this substitute encompasses the neighborhood substitute with a few additional items, so I'll go through both.

The neighborhood substitute attached a revised exhibit one, which was the BT to correct an account code.

It included details that would be taken on the step on the steps taken by the city and making a determination of necessity and place the applicable survey studies and reports revised on file.

It also attached a listing of the affected properties as a new exhibit five.

The finance substitute included all of those items and it also uh removed language authorizing the office of general counsel to initiate condemnation proceedings and declarations of taking and included language requiring city council approval prior to filing a petition for condemnation.

It attached a revised exhibit three, which was the parcel map to reflect the removal of parcel one from the project.

It attached a revised exhibit five, the parcel list to reflect removal of the parcel one and to update the part project parcel information, and it also attached a second revised on file to include a f revised first amendment that reflected the removal of parcel one from the list of properties.

Okay, thank you through the president.

Because that finance substitute effectively makes the city come back to us before uh starting eminent domain proceedings uh for city council will have to approve them before it starts.

Uh I will support subsuit and I'll support the bill as substituted.

Thank you.

All right, no one else in the queue.

All in favor of the substitute.

Actually, we have council member Morrow on substitute.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, through the chair to uh Mayor Cephopolis.

Um I'm pretty sure it's legal or it would not be within the uh substitute, but what is the uh legal standing for that process that uh before the government can file eminent domain, it has to come back to the legislative body, through the president to council member.

So as originally proposed, the legislation would authorize all steps through the process subject to certain guardrails with respect to how much the city could purchase an interest in a property for, etc.

So it doesn't it's not legally affecting the overall condemnation process as outlined in statute.

What it's saying is the council is not granting full authority to take a property through the entire process up to the filing of the condemnation action.

It's requiring before that last step that it come back to city council.

So there was some discussion in committees with respect to how that might affect the timing of different things and um the reactions or responses from the property owners, but legally it's not it's not that you're not allowed to do that.

It's just you're putting a condition on that final step that it has to come back to council one more time, rather than giving them full legal capacity to go all the way through the process without coming back.

And if you want if you want more information or you feel like that doesn't answer your question, deputy General counsel Chris Garrett is also here and could address your question more specifically if you feel you need it.

Alright, I think he's good.

So all in favor of the substitute, signify by saying aye, aye.

Any opposed say nay to substitute carries.

Move the bill as substituted.

Got a motion and second on the bill as substituted.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

13 yes, one nay.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0327.

It's my first time on Diamond Island, I think.

Moving on to page 36, item number 78, 2026, 335.

We've already taken up.

So item number 79.

The introducer of the bill has requested that we postpone this to June the 23rd.

So I'll move that as a motion.

All right.

Mary, would you like to put us in the right posture to get this postponement?

I understand there's a no never mind.

That's another one.

All right.

Sorry.

Motion and second to postpone.

That's verbal.

To June 23rd.

Yes, Mr.

Postpone to June 23rd.

That's a ballot.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you postpone 2026-0363.

Page 37 number item number 80, 2026-378.

I move the amendment.

Have 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 posts say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

Got a motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0378 as amended.

Item 81, 2026, 381, and move the amendment.

Have 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 say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

I have a motion second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0381 as amended.

Turning to page 38, item number 82, 2026-382.

I move the bill.

I have a motion second on the bill.

I have no one in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0382.

Item 83, 2026, 383, move the bill.

Motion and second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

13 yes, one nay.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0383.

Welcome to the island.

Item page 39, item 84, 2026, 385.

I move the amendment.

I have 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 post say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

Motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0385 as amended.

Item 85, 2026, 386.

I move the bill.

I have a motion and second on the bill.

There's no one in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

13 yes, one nay.

By your action, you've approved.

Where are we on?

2026-0386.

And Councilmember Gay?

Welcome to the island.

Does that mean have anybody have a soccer ball?

Item uh number 86, 2026, 390.

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 to say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

I have a motion and second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

Come on, Reggie, join the island.

Waters fine.

14 yay, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0390.

And a number 87, 2026, 393.

I 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 bill as amended.

Got a motion second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ball and record your vote.

14 yes, 0 nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0393.

Turning to page 41, item number 88, 2026, 396, and move the amendment.

I have a motion and second on the amendment.

There's no one in the queue.

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

Aye.

Any post say nay?

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

I have a motion and a second on the bill as amended.

No one's in the queue.

Please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

14 yes, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026-0396.

Item number 89, 2026, 416.

I move the amendment.

I've got a motion second on the amendment.

There is no one in the queue.

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

Aye.

Any opposed to say nay.

The amendment carries.

Move the bill as amended.

I have a motion and a second on the bill as amended.

So one in the queue, please open the ballot.

Record your vote.

14 yay, 0 nays.

By your action, you have approved 2026-0416 as amended.

Mr.

President, now we move on to second reading resolutions and ordinances.

Mr.

Teal, would you please read the bills?

2026 467, 468, 472, 473, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, and 439.

Mr.

John Nooney.

He supports the bill but does not wish to speak.

All right.

Thank you for that.

And I think we should all thank council member Matt Carlucci for his efforts at last meeting seem to have paid off very well.

Mr.

President, you've already approved the addendum for this evening, but we do have one more item with uh item number one seventeen twenty twenty-six five one eight.

So I understand that there is a first we have to move the emergency.

Yeah, I move the emergency.

Thank you, Mr.

Floor.

Leader, remind me again of the item number, page eighteen, page seven, one uh page fifty-nine fifty on fifty, page fifty.

Page fifty.

Five eighteen umber number one seventeen, items one seventeen.

Got it.

I'm there.

And I move the emergency.

I have a motion and a second on the emergency.

Uh all in favor of the emergency.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed to say nay?

I think we have the two-thirds.

It's clear the emergency carries.

Mr.

President, next we have to waive or slash suspend council rule 3.302 to allow for the amendment of the resolution to be included in the first reading.

I need a second.

All right, we have motion second on whatever the floor leader said.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any posts say nay?

We have waived council rule.

Now, Mr.

President, we have to move the floor amendment.

So I go ahead and move the floor amendment.

I think it just handed out to everybody.

We've got a motion and second on the floor amendment.

Sure.

Would you like to explain the floor amendment, Miss?

Miss Thopoulos.

That would be great.

Through the president to the council.

So this bill was originally filed for regular introduction, and the introducer had intended it for it to be taken up as an in and out emergency, which is why we're going through the process that we're going through with several motions this evening.

The floor amendment is to add the emergency language to the bill.

And the nature of the emergency is that there's an event scheduled on June 13th to celebrate reunification month.

And the intent is to have the council act upon the resolution in advance so it can be presented at that event.

All right.

So we have an emotion and a second on adding emergency language to the bill.

All in favor of that motion signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Any posts say nay?

That carries.

Mr.

President, I move the bill as an emergency as amended.

No, we have the bill moved as an emergency as amended.

Councilwoman Clark Mary.

Councilman Salem, the past.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Can someone explain to me what this what this reunification month is before I vote on it?