Special Meeting on Council Priorities with Matt Carlucci and Nick Holland - June 10, 2026
Special Meeting on Council Priorities – June 10, 2026
Councilman Nick Holland, incoming Council President, convened a special open-agenda meeting with Councilman Matt Carlucci at 10:30 AM on June 10, 2026. The purpose was to discuss Carlucci’s legislative priorities for his final year on council and to align with Holland’s upcoming agenda. Topics ranged from naming honors and preservation projects to budget planning amid a November referendum on revenue.
Discussion Items
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Warren A. Jones Wall of Council Presidents – Carlucci proposed designating the wall displaying portraits of past council presidents as the “Warren A. Jones Hall of Council Presidents” (or “Wall of Council Presidents”) to honor the longest‑serving council member in consolidated Jacksonville’s history. Warren Jones, who served two terms as council president and chaired the school board, has not requested any recognition. Carlucci sought Holland’s support and co‑introduction of legislation, and also wants to include Councilman Rockman Johnson. Holland called it a “terrific idea” and agreed to co‑introduce unless city cost is an issue; Carlucci offered to personally cover any expense. The legislation will be drafted after meeting with Johnson.
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Renaming Museum Circle to Haskell Way – Carlucci is preparing legislation to rename Museum Circle (on the Southbank, near the former Prudential building now owned by Haskell Company) to “Haskell Way” as a surprise for Preston Haskell. Because Haskell is still living, a five‑year waiver from the historic commission is required. Carlucci is in the process of filing the legislation and noted that there are only three addresses on that street, one owned by the city.
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Mark Middlebrook Preserve – Carlucci plans to rename one of the two Cedar Point Preserves in the Timucuan Preserve as “Middlebrook Preserve” in memory of Mark Middlebrook, a former Times‑Union reporter who helped lead the preservation project under Mayor John Delaney. The change would also resolve confusion between the two similarly named preserves. Carlucci has spoken with Delaney, Mark Woods, and the Middlebrook family; constituents in the Black Hammock Island area have expressed support. A final community meeting will confirm approval before legislation is introduced.
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Laura Street Trio – Carlucci updated that the note on the historic Laura Street Trio is expected to go into foreclosure in July, after which the current noteholder will likely buy the properties. Future redevelopment will depend on the outcome of the November referendum. Carlucci recounted the 1990s compromise that saved the Trio from demolition and secured funding for the Main Library.
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Consolidation Lunch and Learn – Carlucci proposed a lunch‑and‑learn session for council members (and possibly candidates) to review the foundations of Jacksonville’s consolidated government. He suggested Rick Mullaney and Earl Johnson as speakers. Holland preferred scheduling it in May 2027 after the council elections to attract new members. They agreed to plan for a May date.
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Northwest Infrastructure Investment – Carlucci noted that the mayor’s upcoming budget is expected to include significant infrastructure spending for the northwest quadrant. He stated he will support that investment during budget discussions.
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Peace Memorial Park – Carlucci reported on a project by Wayne Weaver (age 91) to dedicate park improvements at Peace Memorial Park (across from Willow Branch Library) in honor of his mother and father. The park is a veterans’ memorial; a flag and enhanced landscaping are planned. A ribbon‑cutting is likely in early November.
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Riverfront Parks – Carlucci emphasized the importance of continued funding for riverfront parks and the Emerald Trail, cautioning against over‑spending given the pending referendum. He shared that he drove through downtown in 90‑degree heat and observed heavy park usage.
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Springfield Lofts – Carlucci proposed a $6 million redevelopment of the former Jacksonville Jewish Center site north of Klutho Park into approximately 85 affordable housing units. The financing model would be $6 million from city reserves: $3 million forgivable grant and $3 million loan repaid by the developer, Josh Pardue. Carlucci acknowledged the project’s uncertainty due to budget constraints.
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Budget and November Referendum – Councilman Holland stated his immediate focus is a thorough review of the budget. To avoid leaving the next council president with a potential $200 million austerity risk, he is discussing with the mayor and CAO the possibility of making contingent cuts (“below the line”) that could be restored if the November referendum passes. He also highlighted job creation and economic development at Cecil Field, noting new legislation requiring the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to present a development plan for Cecil.
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Mutual Goals – Both councilmen expressed a desire to support each other’s priorities. Carlucci offered to help Holland achieve a “magical” year; Holland committed to creative public‑private partnerships if traditional funding is constrained.
Key Outcomes
- Holland agreed to co‑introduce legislation for the Warren A. Jones Wall of Council Presidents and to approach Councilman Rockman Johnson.
- Carlucci will proceed with legislation to rename Museum Circle to Haskell Way, pending the required waiver.
- Carlucci will introduce legislation to rename one Cedar Point Preserve to Middlebrook Preserve after final community affirmation.
- Both councilmen agreed to organize a consolidation lunch‑and‑learn in May 2027.
- No formal votes were taken; the meeting served as a planning and alignment session.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
You ready, Eric? All right. I call to order the special meeting to discuss council priorities with Councilman Matt Carlucci and myself, Councilman Nick Holland. And um we have an open agenda here, so I'll just say why I wanted to call the meeting. Um actually Councilman Carlucci pretty much ceded the idea. Uh that is there's several members of council who it's their last uh year of uh two four-year terms, and they probably still many of them have priorities that they'd like to advance in projects they'd like to see completed. So I figured as as the incoming president now, I would have a special meeting with each one of them and talk about what those priorities might be. So with that, we have no agenda other than an open discussion, and I will turn over to Mr. Carlisle to see if he has some priorities for us to discuss. Well, I have some uh some things to talk about, and I also want to I mean I've heard what you want to do, but I'd also, you know, when when I go through it mine, I'd like to, you know, see what you want to do because I want to help you accomplish yours. Because I think this is this is this is a mad this could be a magical year for you. It I mean it really can. And and I'd like to see that happen from you. Um a time when the things that you touch turn into gold, and that can happen. Um, and uh, yeah, and and I think you're going about everything the right way. Thank you. Um, and uh so um so I I definitely want to help you accomplish your goals because you only you only get this chance once. Right. Uh I I had it one time and it was an absolute magical year. When I came back on council, I didn't have any desire to do it again because I I think once is enough, yeah, and let everybody else have a chance. Yeah. But um, but thank you for this opportunity. And so I I want to kind of go through them. Um, this is gonna be a difficult year. Uh uh it could be much more difficult, or it uh might be wait and see. But let me just guess start with this one here. So uh first of all, I I have a uh so so Warren Jones has been one of my mentors for uh since I started on City Council in 1987, and uh and I I've seen him under the most intense pressure um on different uh issues, and he has stood firm, and uh I remember watching him under the most intense pressure from uh black ministers who wanted him to really push through a bill that even he wanted, but he knew he couldn't get it through. He knew he would have to compromise with the mayor at Austin at the time, and it was it was a tough, tough time for him, but he knew what was the right way to go about it. And I just remember watching him how comfortable he was in this chair. You know, we we hear this expression being comfortable in your skin, but he was comfortable in that chair. He wasn't squirming, you know, and then he he knew how to explain why and what and so forth. And um, so uh, and then he he wound up becoming council president two years in a row, and uh he's a remarkable human being in person. He knows nothing about this. Well, he may know something about this. I know his wife does. He doesn't want anything named after him. Um I was able to get him to agree to having the baseball complex at um Hammond Park named after him, but uh I really wanted a park named after him, not just the baseball complex, but um when talking to him on the phone, he uh I said, Well, what do you want? He says, you know, Matt all we want is the baseball complex at Hamley Field named after him. All right, that's what I'm gonna, but that's what we'll do. Um, but uh for years I have looked back at that wall uh in the back of City Council where all the council members are uh council presence or uh the pictures are hung, and nothing really identifies it, you know. Uh we we have these uh we have these conference rooms, this one and the others, uh one of which I named after Henry Cook. Uh and um and so there's no more conference rooms, but um I I just uh yeah and and uh I I kind of got the idea from somebody else, but I thought it was great. I just thought it was a great idea, and that was to uh above those pictures, name that the Warren Joan, the Warren A. Jones Hall of or a wall, not hall, wall of presidents. Yeah wall maybe and I've talked to Carla about this and um and I thought it would be a a neat uh joint project if if you wanted to join in and I I really want Rockman Johnson to be a part of this if if if you would you know join with me on that. Is he close with uh Warren? Yes he's very close with Warren and I wouldn't feel right if I didn't uh bring Rockman in on it but I didn't want to say anything about this until I spoke with you uh because I think to have your uh your support and leadership on this would be important but um and I don't want to get into DEI and all that kind of stuff but we have three conference room and they're all named after you know some significant council members and they're all white um and um but we have the longest serving council member in the history of Jacksonville's consolidated government and who's been a two uh a council president twice um the second time of which he didn't want but that's another story for another time yeah I'll share it with you sometime but uh but but anyway um and he's one of the great I think beloved statesmen of Jacksonville he didn't ask for anything you know he everything kind of just falls in his lap you know because of how respected he is yeah so um and then he's been a uh chairman of our school board a two two term member of our school board and and a chairman so I just saw that as what I thought was a great opportunity and I just envisioning his the his name and wall of presidents and everybody within or maybe wall of council presidents. Yeah everybody everybody within the okay well that's that's the that's the picture of all the council presidents because it goes all the way back to Ted Grisset which we probably need to get a another picture of Ted Grissy he's about to fade out you know but he he was uh he was the first counsel uh president and um so uh so I I wanted to ask if uh if if you would consider uh you know joining me in a partnership on that and and with Rockman. I haven't told Lee Brockman anything about this. I think it's a terrific idea and for sure I would approach Rockman first but I would support the the legislation.
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