Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee Meeting Summary

Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:35 PM
Location: Council Chamber, 1st Floor, City Hall, 117 W. Duval Street, Jacksonville, FL

This was the first meeting of the new Council Year. The committee convened to hear a presentation on hurricane preparedness, discuss numerous legislative items, and take votes on amendments and final approval for a variety of ordinances and resolutions.

Presentations

• Hurricane Preparedness Presentation: Chief Andre Ayoub, JFRD Emergency Preparedness Division, presented an overview of how the city prepares for hurricane season. He described the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), activation levels, information flow, evacuation zones (total 431,193 residents), and special medical needs registrants (total 1,015). He detailed the public assistance process, noting that as of FY 2025, Duval County's threshold for FEMA reimbursement is $4.7 million. FEMA covers 75% of eligible costs, with the state and city each covering 12.5%. He presented a summary of disaster recovery costs from Hurricane Matthew (2016) through Hurricane Milton (2024), showing $184 million spent and $121 million recovered, leaving $63 million outstanding.
• Councilmember Boylan asked if community organizations are active in the recovery process; Chief Ayoub confirmed they are and that new organizations can reach out to the liaison officer. Councilmember Boylan mentioned the Northeast Florida Long Term Recovery Organization formed after Hurricane Irma. Vice Chair Clark-Murray asked about FEMA reimbursement rates and the average recovery time. Councilmember Salem expressed surprise that $63 million is still outstanding, given the time since the last major storm, and asked for updated fund status from the Council Auditor's Office. Councilmember Carlucci expressed frustration with the state and FEMA for slow reimbursement, and asked how much JEA is owed.
• Councilmember Boylan provided an overview of new council attendance rules effective July 1, 2026, requiring written excusal requests to the committee chair, a limit of one excused absence per meeting (two for military or medical reasons), a quorum of five members, and removal from a committee after three unexcused absences. Chair Miller clarified that excusal requests should be sent by email no later than the day before the meeting, with confirmation of receipt.

Consent Calendar

• None. All items were addressed individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Chandler Peel (7101 Wilson Blvd, apt 2108) – expressed concerns about apartment safety and security at Eden's Edge Apartments, including speeding vehicles, unauthorized pool access, nighttime disturbances, suspected drug activity, and damaged entrance gates. He requested increased JSO presence, 24/7 gate operation, key access to the pool, more surveillance cameras, and regular town hall meetings with management.
• Ms. Cheryl Robinson (110 W 32nd St) – spoke about her own eviction matter, alleging her signature was forged on a lease by attorneys, and that she was locked out despite having proof of rent payments. She stated she filed charges and was subsequently told she would not be let back in. Council President Howland offered to meet with her after the meeting.
• Ms. Kim Fontecchio (2729 Delonega Drive) – introduced herself as owner/operator of Fontecchio's Community Garden, a city-approved half-acre botanical sanctuary in District 2. She stated she built the garden to replace a history of domestic violence on the land with a safe space. She reported facing organized hostility and racial discrimination from a handful of neighbors, and asked for fair and neutral inspections.
• Mr. Paul Harden (1431 River Place Blvd) – appeared on behalf of the Jaguars to discuss a pending marina construction project near the Four Seasons, on a submerged land lease with the State of Florida. He stated they were proposing to extend the lease to add space and amenities, and requested Council approval as an emergency upon introduction to have it available before the first football game.

Discussion Items

• Item 5 – Warren A. Jones Baseball Complex (2026-0319): Ordinance to name the city-owned baseball complex at Hammond Park after Warren A. Jones. The amendment attached the Historic Preservation Section report and waived certain timeline requirements. Councilmember Carrico asked to be added as co-sponsor. Vice Chair Clark-Murray noted that Councilmember Freeman had a concern but that Councilmember Carlucci hosted a publicly noticed meeting. Councilmember Carlucci explained that Mr. Jones declined having the entire park named after him, and agreed to the baseball complex. The amendment was approved unanimously. The bill as amended was approved 7-0.
• Item 8 – Springfield Cleanup Corps Program Funding (2026-0445): Appropriates $200,000 from Council District 7 CBA contingency to SPAR for the Springfield Cleanup Corps Program. The amendment corrected account information and budget narrative. Approved unanimously.
• Item 9 – SHIP Plan Amendment for FY 21-24 (2026-0448): Increases max award per unit for affordable housing: New Construction for Ownership from $160,000 to $250,000, and Rehabilitation/New Construction for Rental from $100,000 to $250,000. Mr. Travis Jeffrey (Housing and Community Development) explained that construction costs exceed the previous $160,000 limit. The amendment was approved unanimously. Councilmember Peluso asked to be added as co-sponsor. Approved 7-0.
• Item 10 – SHIP Plan Amendment for FY 24-27 (2026-0449): Increases max award for Rental Development from $1 million to $2 million. Amendment approved unanimously. Councilmember Peluso added as co-sponsor. Approved 7-0.
• Item 11 – Homelessness Initiatives Commission (2026-0489): Amends Chapter 86 to clarify processes and add the Mayor's liaison. Councilmember Salem expressed concern about setting a precedent and voted against it. Councilmember Boylan stated the liaison would report on administration progress. Councilmember Peluso explained the commission was created by Council without executive branch connection, making a liaison necessary for fund disbursement. Mr. Bill Delaney (Mayor's Office) stated that institutionalizing the role is beneficial given ongoing homelessness needs. The amendment passed unanimously. Final vote was 4-3 (Clark-Murray, Boylan, Carlucci, Peluso in favor; Miller, Carrico, Salem against).
• Item 12 – HOME Investment Partnership Grant (2026-0490): Appropriates $3,625,976.76 for housing assistance. Amendment corrected account codes. Approved 7-0.
• Item 13 – CDBG Grant (2026-0491): Appropriates $8,167,263.28 for community development. Councilmember Carrico abstained citing potential conflict of interest (Boys & Girls Club applies for CDBG funding). Approved 6-0-1.
• Item 14 – Noxious Weeds and Invasive Plant Species (2026-0492): Amends property maintenance code to add invasive species as nuisance vegetation. Amendment corrected definitions. Approved 7-0.
• Item 15 – Deerwood Rotary Park and Fort Family Park (2026-0493): Appropriates $1,358,150 for playground and park improvements. Councilmembers Carrico and Carlucci added as co-sponsors. Approved 7-0.
• Item 16 – Foreclosure Registry Funds (2026-0494): Appropriates $1,338,737.21 for foreclosure-related programs and blight removal. Amendment corrected amounts. Approved 7-0.
• Item 17 – Timuquan Trail – Segment C (2026-0495): Appropriates $1,700,000 in grant funding for trail construction. Amendment corrected project location to Council District 2. Approved 7-0.
• Item 18 – Parks Invasive Species Removal (2026-0496): Appropriates $72,300 for invasive species removal. Approved 7-0.
• Item 19 – Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (2026-0497): Appropriates $3,269,046.69 for housing assistance. Chair Miller asked for the number of people assisted; Mr. Jeffrey stated he would provide that information. Approved 7-0.
• Item 20 – SHIP Continuation Grant (2026-0498): Appropriates $7,737,038.90 for affordable housing programs. Councilmember Salem asked about down payment assistance repayment; Mr. Jeffrey explained deferred payment with 5-, 10-, or 15-year liens. Approved 7-0.
• Item 21 – Emergency Solutions Grant (2026-0499): Appropriates $610,307.44 for homelessness services. Councilmember Salem asked about organization selection; Mr. Jeffrey described a universal application process with rating/ranking by two internal staff and one consultant. Vice Chair Clark-Murray asked about cash match responsibility; Mr. Jeffrey confirmed subrecipients are responsible. Chair Miller questioned whether Changing Homelessness is paid for data management that it is already paid to do; Mr. Jeffrey said he believed they receive additional CoC funding but did not know the amount. Approved 7-0.
• Items 22-31 (Second Readings): The following items were read a second time and rereferred to the Finance Committee: 2026-0535 (Trout River intersection/sidewalk projects), 2026-0536 (National Arts Program employee art show), 2026-0537 (FOP Foundation audit forgiveness), 2026-0538 (CIP budget corrections), 2026-0539 (Tax Collector postage costs), 2026-0540 (Gopal Way street naming), 2026-0541 (Downtown mixed-use development with Publix), 2026-0542 (Sulzbacher shelter capacity funding), 2026-0543 (Zawyer Sports Foundation funding), and 2026-0552 (Jacksonville Riverfront Alliance funding and downtown park maintenance).

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Items 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 – all with amendments where applicable and unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
• Approved with Split Vote: Item 11 (Homelessness Initiatives Commission) – approved 4-3.
• Rereferred to Finance Committee: Items 22 through 31 (second readings) were read a second time and referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration.
• Next Meeting: The regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 3, 2026.