Hello, everyone.

Welcome to the Monday, July 20th, Neighborhoods, Community Services Public Health and Safety Committee meeting in the first one of our new year.

I'd like to get started by giving introductions, please.

We can start over on my left with Mr.

Libby.

Evan Libby, Council Research.

Larry Stefopoulos, Office of General Counsel.

Heather Reber, Council Auditor's Office.

Matt Carlucci at large group four.

Good afternoon, Michael Boylan, District Six.

Good afternoon, Tyler LeClark Murray, District 9.

Good afternoon, Chris Miller at large group five.

Ron Salem, group two at large.

Good afternoon, Jimmy Peluso, City Council District 7.

Good afternoon, Nick Howland at large group three, just visiting.

And we're gonna we're going to get started.

I I know our new new president, uh, President Howland would like to make a few remarks.

So I'm gonna before we go into uh the agenda here.

We're going to uh turn it over to him for his his comments.

Mr.

President.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, just briefly just wanted to welcome everybody back from the council break.

Um I'm excited to get going.

I hope you are too.

I think it's gonna be a good year, and uh, we certainly have challenges ahead of us, at least as far as the budget is concerned.

We all know what those are, but I think this council can rise to it.

Um it's a great team.

I love working with y'all and uh look forward to finishing this year, getting going and then finishing this year.

And for many of us rolling off, um, you know, having a terrific terrific and a productive final year, and then hopefully all of us come back for another four-year term soon.

Um but um enjoy the uh uh the start of the year, and uh it's a great committee you have here.

And thanks, Mr.

Chair, for taking the home.

Thank you.

And I'd like to note that we're joined by past President Carico as well.

And now I'd like to um go to the public comments first, and then we have a couple of presentations that I I think will be brief before we get started into our agenda.

Um you'll have three minutes.

The two that I have listed here are Chandler Peel and Cheryl Robinson.

Um if uh Chandler Peel, if you would please come up, um state your name and your address for the record, and uh the time is yours.

I serve as a fourth grade teacher.

Good afternoon, City Council.

My name is Chandler Peel, and I reside at 7101 Wilson Boulevard, apartment number 2108 on the west side region of Jacksonville.

I serve as a fourth grade teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School, doing what I love, helping children grow and their academics and their Catholic identity.

And I am passionate about serving the community of Jacksonville and educating the next generation.

I am here to discuss apartment safety and security concerns at my residents.

Eden's Edge apartment complex, located on Wilson Boulevard and the West Side region of Jacksonville.

Public safety is an issue I take seriously.

In April, I graduate from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Citizens Police Academy.

I've also participated in right-alongs with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.

I attended a JSO District 4 town hall meeting last week.

These experiences have helped me better to understand the importance of strong partnerships between residents, law enforcement, and community leaders.

I have observed several concerns that impact residents' safety and quality of life.

These include vehicles speeding through the property, individuals accessing the pool area who do not appear to be residents, nighttime disturbances, suspected drug activity, and repeated issues with security measures being bypassed.

The entrance gate has been damaged or forced open on multiple occasions, allowing unauthorized individuals to enter the community.

The fence has also been pried open, allowing people to use the property as a shortcut.

There have been situations involving juveniles who do not live in the community, entering restricted areas, running around the leasing office and damaging property.

Residents deserve to feel safe when they where they live.

Apartment community should be places where families, children, and working residents can live peacefully.

I believe there are several steps that could improve the safety, including increased Jacksonville Sheriff's Office presence from their patrol unit, ensuring the entrance gate remains closed and operational 24 7, adding key access to the pool area, increasing surveillance cameras around common areas and entrances, and regular town hall meetings between apartment management and residents.

My goal is to not simply report problems, but to help create solutions.

Safe communities require cooperation between residents, property managers, law enforcement, and local government.

Thank you for your time and for allowing me to share these concerns.

Thank you.

Next is Ms.

Robinson, please.

Good afternoon, Council Persons.

I am Cheryl Robison.

I reside at 110 West 32nd Street, Jacksonville, Florida, 32206.

I have been evicted and locked out of my house.

My landlord forged my signatures ever since 2003 on a lease, and I found out in May of May the 9th that my signature had been forged by the lawyers at Liga A.

So I went downtown and I found a complaint.

I filed a charges for him forging my signature all a long time.

I have paid my rent.

She told me she was gonna let me in.

She said she's not gonna let me in now because I filed charges against Mr.

Shea, and I'm a liar, and she don't have time to play games with me, so she ain't coming and let me in nothing.

The likes in my name.

Oh, oh, you have more?

Okay, please.

Go ahead.

I was trying to make sure I get the main point across.

Um, I know they say I have to have something to show on that the likes is in my name and been in my name for a long time.

Now I've been in this house ever since 2020.

But I was living with my son in the house.

Now I took over the house in 2023.

And she said the lady told me that I haven't paid rent since December of 2025.

So I went to my bank, which is Florida Credit Union, and they pulled up the account where I it showed that I've been paying rent January, February, March, April, May, and I owe for June.

Well, what?

Well, May, where I paid me.

But what happened?

I work at Shann's, I've been there about five years.

They took my chick and refused to pay me.

Well, people say they hate it, but I just say they didn't pay me.

So I was telling Shans, I need my chick because I have to pay my rent.

I can get evicted, but they didn't pay me to the end of May.

So I had to get the union worker in to try to help me.

She said, Miss Robson, there's too much things going on with this.

I don't know what to do.

So I let her go and I went down to the labor board and I told the labor board I had an eviction.

Um, the eviction came after the chick didn't show up.

So by time I got money to pay the rent, the eviction had already gone through.

So I don't know what to do.

She won't let me in.

She don't lock me out.

She told me she was gonna let me in.

Now she says she's not gonna let me in.

All right, thank you, Miss Robinson.

Um we have council president would like to meet you in the in the room over here, uh, Bob Johnson room or green room.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And the last uh speaker is Kim Fontecchio.

Fontechio.

Fontekio.

Good afternoon.

My um hi.

My name is Kim Fontecchio.

I'm here today to introduce myself.

Your address, please.

I'm sorry, the address.

I reside at 2729 Delonega Drive, Jacksonville, Florida, 3224.

Okay, thank you.

I'm here today to introduce myself as the owner, creator, and operator of Fontechio's community garden, which gained its official certificate of use on July 13th, 2026.

This garden is a city approved half acre botanical sanctuary here in District 2.

I built the garden with a deeply personal purpose to replace a past history of fear and domestic violence on this land that I have proudly owned since 2009, with a safe space dedicated to love, laughter, human connection, and healing.

My mission is to demonstrate that love is more powerful than hate.

And I proudly hold that certificate today.

Unfortunately, however, my personal mission of welcoming a diverse group of families is currently facing a lot of nasty organized hostility and racial discrimination from a handful of my neighbors.

Pontecchio's community garden has only just begun.

My long term vision is to welcome our community to cultivate, learn, and grow together, becoming an asset to the city of Jacksonville.

I want to be able to welcome local parents groups, homeschoolers, or other small organizations to teach families and children about indigenous Florida herbs and ultimately be able to provide individual garden plots that community members can help cultivate themselves.

I came here today to share my story to ask our city inspectors to look at my property with fair and neutral eyes and to offer my commitment to this group of city leaders that my garden will continue to be a safe, welcoming, and peaceful space for everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman Paul Hardin, 1431 River Place Boulevard.

I'm here on behalf of the Jaguars today, along with uh Mr.

McKayus, who's general counsel.

Um, as you know, down by the four seasons and the office building down there, the Jaguars are also constructing on behalf of the city a marina.

Uh that marina is on a submerged land lease with the state of Florida.

Um we are renewing the the extending the the lease that's there.

We're adding some additional space on and putting some other uses like the sale of gas there.

Uh we would like to have that available for the first football game.

We can't do that without the emergency.

I had spoken with Councilman Hallan uh a couple of weeks ago, and he he said he was fine with an in and out introduction.

So I'm going to each committee this week to see if there are any questions, make sure you know that we're available uh for any any questions.

Um at Mr.

Morland's suggestion uh this morning I sent a copy of the of the lease around everybody by email.

There's also a copy set uh last week.

I sent a copy, Miss Rebra sent it to Philip at your shop and uh and Mary directly.

Um so I've I've copied in everybody who was uh at the at the meeting this morning.

I'll be at the committees uh tomorrow as well and be available to answer questions in the next week if you if you have any questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Harden.

I don't see anyone in the queue, so I I believe we're we're all good here.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming.

We'll next go to Mr.

Andre Ayub.

It's uh hurricane season time, and and he reached out and said he he wanted to be able to speak to us and and give us some information as we move into this this season about emergency preparedness and what he and his team are are doing.

So, Mr.

Aub, uh the floor is yours.

Absolutely good afternoon.

So, Andre, you chief of Dualt County Emergency Preparedness Division.

So through the chair, uh Councilman President Howland uh asked me to discuss how we prepare for hurricane season.

So I'd like to give you a quick overview of what we do, how we prepare.

Now, this presentation used to be about 30 minutes.

I'll try to get it down to about three minutes, so I'll try to get it through it.

Oh my god.

So the Mercy Operations Center, the EOC is the hub of Jacksonville's response during an incident or disaster.

Multiple agencies work together to ensure a quick, efficient response for our community.

These are some of our stakeholders that we partner with when we activate.

So first responders, state EOC, private sector, federal partners, and NGOs.

And this is just the name of a few of our stakeholders that come over the EOC.

When we activate the EOC, the EOC is operationally in staff based on incident.

I want to kind of tie this, these three activation levels that you see to your right of the page to a potential hurricane in the Atlantic.

So if we see a hurricane coming off the coast of Africa, we are having day-to-day conversation with NWS Jacksonville.

So this is not activated, our normal day-to-day.

We're talking to them.

So the storm is too far out to make any predictions, but we're having conversation with them to make sure that we're on top of the storm.

Now going to partially activated, this is a preparation for a large incident response to minor incident or planned event.

So now we're looking at about seven days out.

NWS is telling us hey, listen, there this storm is brewing up.

This is you're gonna see some potential impacts in Duvall County.

So for us in-house, that's my personal at the EOC, we're reaching out to our stakeholders, our partners, we're pulling out plans and checklists, make sure they know what we know.

We're all on the same page for potential activation in Duval County.

Now I'm going into a full activation.

Now disaster is imminent or occurring, full staffing and response operations.

Now we go from 24 people, and if you haven't been there, it's an incredible experience.

But we go from 24 to about 200, 250 people at the OC 24-7.

Now we're managing the hurricane.

I'm sorry, okay, back up.

So information flow.

I want you all to see the information flow.

We call it a battle rhythm when we activate the EOC for the executive group.

The first meeting we have, traditionally we have it at 8 a.m.

That's when the executive group comes to the EOC.

NWS will brief the executive group.

I will facilitate that meeting, then we'll go around the room, and then we'll talk about priorities, concerns with the storm, and then we'll give our recommendation to the mayor.

The mayor will make that final decision at that meeting, and that's our uh you know, our conclusion of that meeting.

Then we will segue into the mayor briefs of stakeholders.

When we're having that meeting, that's historically at 11 a.m.

My deputy division chief will go into another room, and that's when he briefs the city council, doval delegates.

We want to make sure that you guys have firsthand information what the mayor is implementing in Duval County as the stakeholders do.

So that's happening right at the same time.

Then we go into our external external stakeholders, our press briefings.

I'm sure you've seen it.

We'll go downstairs to JFRD headquarters.

We have that meeting at 12.05 and 6.05 p.m.

Uh the mayor will get on stage with myself, the sheriff, the fire chief, and NWS will brief the media and the citizens on what the plan is and potential impacts of Duvall County.

Once that meeting is over, the PIOs will package that plan and push it out to the citizens of Duvall County social media and so on and so forth.

Now discuss evacuations.

So depending upon the intensity, the angle, the approach of the storm to the area, status of evacuation orders, and other Florida counties, behaviors and responses of vulnerable populations who seek support during the event.

So we're talking about special medical needs uh evacuees, low-line air area and manufactured home residents and the elderly.

The decision to evacuate any part of Duvall County will be made by the mayor as dictating section 674-207 F.

I want to give you all a quick snapshot.

When we talk about evacuation zones, so zones A to F, we have a total of 431,193 residents in there.

If you look at the red in there, so when we talk about the coastline uh zone A, it's not just the coastline.

You look at the tributaries, it goes all the way to the north side, west side, south side.

So people lose focus of that.

So from our shop, we're looking at the whole county when we if we ever do an evacuation order in Duvall County.

The special medical needs uh registrants residing in evacuation zones.

We have a total of 1,015 in Duvall County.

I want to kind of explain that process.

Every January, my special medical needs captain and a group of individuals at JFRD will reach out to these residents and ask them if they still want to be on registry, you know, if they still live in Duval County, and then we also do a strong uh community engagement outreach.

We put it on our Jacks Ready app.

So we want to make sure we have the most accurate numbers going to hurricane season, which starts June 1st, because these individuals may need transportation, they may be wheelchair bounds.

We want to make sure that we are prepared for that potential evacuation for those residents.

Now talk a little bit about incident management.

As I was saying earlier about the executive group, section 674 203 sections B2.

Under the coordination of the mayor, it is comprised of emergency preparedness director, the appropriate department heads, and other key individuals identified them by the mayor.

These individuals provide the following to the incident commander policy, mission, strategic direction, and authority.

I know we're talking about hurricanes, but God forbid say we have a terrorist incident as this states, so we may not have NWS.

We may have the FBI or FDLE come over and be part of the executive group.

That's a natural transition.

I want to show you the org chart.

This, you know, in Jacksonville, uh, I'm a little ICS nerd.

It's a command system.

This is a national model.

This is what we do to manage planned and unplanned events.

Unplanned events, hurricanes, planned events, all the Jaguar games, Florida, Georgia games, uh, special events.

Uh this is a big part of my job, and I'm proud to be part of this when we do the special events is relationship building.

That's when we build those relationships, get on the same page.

So God forbid when we have a hurricane or unplanned event, those relationships are already established.

So public affairs responsibilities.

So public affairs office is the lead public information agency for the city during EOC activations.

The main point I want to say here.

So when we're about to activate, we call it JIT Joint Information Center.

All the PIOs will come to the EOC, they will sit together.

So if I'm the instant commander or part of Unified Command, we don't want PIOs from different agencies pushing out conflicting information.

That message is going to be put together by the lead PIO, and it's got to be approved by the instant commander unified command before it's pushed out.

Uh it works really well, and we always say one voice, one message, and we say that in our first planning meeting.

Recovery from a disaster.

So public assistance process.

So to receive presidential declaration of a disaster, certain criteria are required as a fiscal year 25.

So Duvall County's threshold is right at 4.7 million dollars.

That's for us to receive reimbursement.

Uh personnel from the state and FEMA may come to Jacksonville and survey the damage, and FEMA will cover 75% of eligible costs.

The state and the jurisdiction will split the remaining costs, which is typically about 12 and a half percent each.

And this is my last slide.

I want to kind of showcase this.

Jacksonville's disaster recovery.

So with Duvall County from Hurricane Matthew, which is 2016, to Hurricane Milton, 2024, there's nine disasters in between those years.

Uh we have spent over 184 million, but I'm proud to say we've recovered 121 million of that.

That goes back in the city general fund.

That leaves 63 million dollars out there.

Uh, I have a captain and a lieutenant that oversee that unit in my division.

Uh they coordinate with our disaster consultants, the state and the FEMA, uh, to try to recoup that six to three million dollars.

There's a balance there because I trust me.

I know Chief Golden's looking at me right now, and uh he he'll call me early hours.

We're trying to recoup that money, but it's a balance that you know we have we have to have with those uh agencies.

I'll give you an example.

You know, two months ago, I got a we got an email from FEMA.

They wanted some documentation from Hurricane Matthew, which was 2016.

So I say this, these disasters they're not always accomplished within one year.

It takes time, but we're staying on it, and like I said, our consultants stay on it.

We have constant meetings to make sure we can try to recoup some of that sixty three million dollars that's still out there.

With that, I just want to thank you for your time and open up for any questions you have of me.

Thank you, Mr.

Umy Helpful.

Thank you for all you and your team are doing uh to make sure we're prepared, and then um, as we've seen in the past, when when we need to activate, um you all have done that very well, and I'm sure we'll continue to do so.

Um, I have we have three people in the queue uh with some comments here.

I'd like to start uh with council member Boylan.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I appreciate the chair, Mr.

Arub.

Um community organizations active in disaster.

Uh you're familiar with the entities that are looking to be involved in the particularly during the recovery period.

Are they in the loop in all of this process?

Yes, sir.

Through the chair to Constable, yes, sir, they are.

They usually historically will reach out to us.

Now, if they're new organization, right, they'll reach out, and then we we have a liaison officer that will communicate with them and then get them established.

As you might recall, during Northeast Florida Long-Term Recovery Organization after Irma helped lead that entity, and through that process, the co-ad came back to life.

So it is relatively new.

But I just want to make sure they were on your radar and part of the process.

Yes, sir.

And kind of flip side of that that point, uh, we have to be careful because there's organizations, especially especially if we have a uh a major disaster here in Duval County, you'll have organizations that will deploy to Duvall County.

So we got to make sure agencies are vetted properly because they'll jump in and we start getting to work, they'll say, Listen, wait a minute, you we already started working, you got to pay us.

So we have to be careful.

There's a fine balance with that.

I remember that very well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We'll go next to Vice Chair Clark Murray.

Thank you, Chair.

Good afternoon.

Just a quick question in regards to the funding.

Does FEMA reimburse 100% of the cost that the city incurs when they're disasters?

75%, ma'am.

Up 75.

Yes, ma'am.

And so the city and the state are uh in it for 12 and a half percent.

All right, thank you.

And so, do you know what the average is?

Because you mentioned um Matthew back in 16, if I'm not mistaken.

Yes, and so now we're looking at 10 years.

Yes, ma'am.

So I can get you, I mean if the reports uh and show you, and I'll I can show you what was spent for each disaster and what we've recouped and what's still pending.

Uh so that's what we work with our consultants.

So there's some things that are worth fighting for.

If it's you know a couple million dollars, if it's they're asking a certain thing, uh, we're gonna fight for that with our consultants uh and certain other things, you know, is it's not worth it's a couple thousand dollars, but if it's millions, we're gonna try to fight for that.

But I can get that to you, ma'am.

Right, thank you.

Thanks, Chair.

Thank you.

Next to Pass President Salem, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Through the chair, I'm a little confused in finance near the end of last year.

We had a report on hurricanes and where we were with our funds, and my recollection, Miss Reber, maybe you need to talk to uh um Mr.

Peterson, but I thought we were fairly current because we've not had a a real hurricane in several three or four years, which would have given time for these dollars to come in.

And I'm I'm a little shocked to hear there's sixty-four million dollars out there.

Can you and I don't know we're gonna resolve this today, but I I'd like to know this, and I know those dollars are put in a separate fund.

They're they're not in the general fund, it's a separate fund so they can be tracked separately.

Um, and I'll say, can you please get me the specifics of that fund and where we are and how much money is truly outstanding, understanding we're responsible for uh uh 12 and a half percent of that.

I understand that, but that that would appear 64 million to be a lot more than that.

And I just like to understand where we are.

Uh through the chair to council member Salem, yes.

I will get with uh Mr.

Peterson because I believe the reports that we receive are from the chief and the same reports, but I will get with him and we'll give you the numbers that you are asking for.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

So through the chair to Council Salem Salem.

So part of that process with FEMA, and I just reached out to the state.

There's different steps for those reimbursements.

So I had to reach out to them a couple weeks ago, and for whatever reason it was a sticker point with the state.

The money was obligated from FEMA to the state.

I reached out to the CFO with the state, and then shortly after they started releasing the money, or it was escalated to higher steps.

So there is steps in that process, so we work with them.

Yes, sir.

Completely understand that it's sometimes years before we get reimbursed, which was the reason for my question, uh, because we haven't had a storm in quite some time, so the money should have been close to catching up.

I'm just a little surprised at the dollar amount that's still outstanding, and I just want to understand our our liability there, so to speak.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

We'll go next to uh past President Carlucci, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, to our council auditor.

Last time I asked about our reserves, we still have over what the I guess um the default amount we're supposed to have in our emergency reserves.

Is that correct?

Still um through the chair to council member Carlucci, I believe so, but I can get you a more direct answer and email it to you.

Okay.

Uh it's a little frustrating to me.

Uh I know that FEMA.

When y'all are through, I'll speak up.

Um I'm I'm probably as familiar with FEMA as anybody up here because of my business that I deal with.

And FEMA is notoriously slow, uh, and have been.

And um, and and so uh they are federal, uh, but then they also work through the state.

It has been a long time, uh, Councilman Salem is right.

Uh so much of this damage was through uh uh Irma and Matthew, which came before we were even elected in 2019, and we're still waiting.

Which um uh if I may, through the chair, uh how much of that um how much of a role does the state play in um helping us gather that money from uh FEMA?

They uh they have somebody from FEMA at the state OC that what I was told.

So there's a direct uh uh connection with state and FEMA.

Uh once again, but it is FEMA.

Uh the biggest thing I do want to for for the uh neighborhoods committee, I want to say that I want to make sure from the EOC and the Duval County that we've done everything on our part.

But to answer the question through the chair to Councilman Carlucci, uh they are they're they're they work hand in hand like you said, uh the state is working on it for FEMA.

Right.

Okay.

That's what I that's what I knew, and that's what I thought.

I I try to never ask a question unless I know what the answer is.

Yes, sir.

Um, and so this might be a little bit of an editorial, but uh for all the criticism that we take from the damn state, it would appear that they could give us little help uh more than 10 years later on the dollars that we're trying to wait on to get from the reserves.

And we sit here and get lectured to all the time about this, that, and the other, and we're still waiting hand in fist for money that was owed to us a long time ago.

And that probably has to do with JEA as well.

I'd like to know how much JEA is owed.

Do we know how much JEA is owed?

I don't know, sir.

Because they are a public utility, and that's one of the advantages to having a public utility is because they can recover money for the damages they incurred uh from FEMA.

Private utilities cannot.

They pass their cost along to uh the uh to their customers.

So perhaps uh my office will send uh an inquiry ever so politely to um the state, asking them when we might expect uh our money from FEMA uh or some assistance or how much assistance they've given and where the logjam is, and is there anything else that we need to do?

Uh you know, it uh it all goes back to that same old thing that I have said many times.

When you point your finger at somebody, there's about three, maybe four that point right back at you.

And um, so you know, big brother ain't helping us none, it appears to me, but but I'll I'll I'll check and inquire, and if I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it.

But um it uh just it just really um uh stirs up the righteous indignation in me because I know this man right here, and I know he does his job, and he's one of the best we've ever had.

And the fruits of his labor ought to be producing some help from those who have the ability to do it.

That's all I got to say.

All right, thank you.

I and I think as soon as we get the updated um numbers, and if you know, as you've said, you're gonna break them down by pending and then hopefully by level.

Is it pending from FEMA?

Is it pending from the state?

It's already been released from FEMA.

Once we get those numbers, I think that'll get a give us a better indication of where we really are uh versus the overall numbers that you briefed earlier, which are useful.

Uh but I think once you do that, and if you would send that back so that we all have access to that, uh working with with Ms.

Reber and whoever else is involved.

So thank you.

Uh we have two more people on the queue, past President Kerakou, you're recognized.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

I just want to thank um Mr.

Ayuba, I still call you chief from your days at uh JSO for coming down here and being prepared and just let the record reflect last year we did not have to activate the EOC one time.

I know you you kept that seat hot for me, but I never got to go.

It's either great leadership from the council or just your prayers because you're a good Christian man.

I know you've been praying to avoid those disasters.

A combination of both, we didn't have to do it.

I hope we don't have to do it this year.

Uh but I I just know that you're prepared and your your shop does a great job and and and all the preparation to make sure we're safe if an incident does happen.

But um, thank you again for coming down.

Thank you, sir.

Thank thank you.

We'll go next to uh President Howland.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I also wanted to thank Andre for coming down.

It was a conversation you and I had about a month ago, and um in the interim, he is already starting to pay attention to everything out there.

In fact, he sent a couple texts to myself and the vice president, which is the generally the process uh about Invest 91L, which I think is now tropical depression 91L.

Luckily, that one which is was swirling around the northeastern Gulf of Mexico Gulf of America is now going west uh towards New Orleans.

So um thanks for keeping us abreast.

Thanks for watching these things when they're clear across the Atlantic or developing somewhere far away uh and helping us analyze what it's gonna mean to us.

Appreciate it.

Absolutely.

Thank you all for your support over the years.

Thank you.

I see no one else in the queue, so thank you very much for your time and for all you and your team do every day.

Thank you so much, sir.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll turn now to the beginning of our regular agenda.

Oh, yes.

Oh, we have uh another issue that I I said councilmember boyland uh would talk about before we get started here, and so we'll do that now.

You recognize thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I uh at the bequest of uh councilman council president Howland, I reminded him this morning about the revised council rules.

I just want to take a minute to address those so there's some clarity.

New rules uh stipulate a couple things.

Number one, uh council members wishing to be excused from a committee meeting, uh need to do so by uh contacting the council chair or the committee chair and letting the new so in advance and and acknowledge that the permission has been granted, that no more than one council member can uh be excused from a committee meeting, uh with the exception of scenarios whereby there's a sudden illness in the family or military or other issue that uh is beyond the control of the council member, in which cases there would be as many uh two excused absences.

Uh number two, a quorum of the committee uh for it to take actions required five members at the table.

Uh four, if in fact there are two uh excused absences.

And then if council members do not have an excused absence and don't show up for a meeting, if that happens in three times over the course of the year, they will be uh removed from from that committee.

For the council uh office uh council meetings per se, again, the council president needs to provide those excused absences.

Uh again, and permission is to be uh granted by the committee chair and or the council president before people walking away from the dais.

I prealize it feels like a school mar I'm trying to suggest this, but we've had situations where we have very small number of folks uh at uh at the table when it comes to particularly public comment during the city council meetings, and also on some critical votes when there are only a couple of folks who tend to walk away as they we used to say walk on meetings, on walk walk on votes.

So I I I we we introduced this bill uh last year.

Uh all of us had supported it, moved it forward.

I just want to remind that, and as far as the discretion of the committee chair, it's up for you to let people know how you want to handle this kind of situation.

So if you say I'd like to have an emailed in advance by two days before or whatever it is that you're called or however you want to handle it, but then recognize the fact that an excused absence is something that now requires the consent of the committee chair.

Thank you, Mr.

Millen.

Thank you very much, and thank you uh council president Howland.

Um now's the time to be talking about this, so I appreciate you sending this up front.

And as far as this committee goes, as long as I've confirmed uh and we've had an exchange um no later than the day before uh the the committee meeting, um that's sufficient.

And obviously, if there's an emergency, you know, whenever, whenever it's possible, it could be right before the meeting.

Uh I'm fine with that.

But I just want to make sure we've had the exchange.

Um I sent you an email, didn't you get it?

You know, that's probably not a good thing.

But if as long as we've had a uh an exchange between the two of us, uh preferably for normal circumstances at least the day before, uh, that'll be fine.

And Ms.

Stepopoulos, I believe has some words of wisdom for us as well.

Thank you.

I also just wanted to remind the members that the request to be excused from a committee meeting should be has to be in writing.

So, Mr.

Chair, from that perspective, you may want to ask that they send it by email.

And if you want to have them copy your executive council assistant, you just may want to address that as well.

You already addressed kind of how far in advance you want that done.

Um you might also want to think about and you you might want to think about this between now and the next committee meeting, how you will take those.

So if you get multiple excusal requests, will you take them up on a first come first served?

Will you wait until you've received what you're gonna receive and then make a determination based on the nature of the request, recognizing you can only have one council member receiving an excused absence in the absence of another factor, military service or an emergency illness, that kind of and we don't we don't have an allow I'll take that back.

We don't have an allowance for emergencies.

We have an allowance for medical issues for the council member or a relative of the council member.

So if it's an emergency of some other nature, it still counts towards the one excused absence that's allowed per committee meeting.

Right.

Thank you for clarifying that.

I was just referring to as far as the timeliness part of that, but yes, we need it in writing, but I also want to make sure we've acknowledged, I've acknowledged receipt that we've had the exchange versus it was in my email box and and it was an assumption.

Um and and it was an assumption.

So if we can additionally have that exchange uh to make sure I've received it, and I will do that.

If you send me something, I'll reply uh so you have that feedback.

Um anything else on that subject?

Okay, thank you.

Um I will give that some more thought, Ms.

Stevopoulis, and we'll we'll talk about that next meeting.

Um Mr.

Aube, uh, I just had one more quick question.

This is for the public, if you don't mind.

You you put up a chart in your presentation that lists all the evacuation zones.

Just as a public reminder, how may uh the citizens of Jacksonville look to make sure because there's a lot of you know intermingling of zones, and am I in this zone, am I in that zone?

If you would let the public let us know, how may someone best find out exactly which zone they're considered in?

Great question.

Through the chairs of uh Councilman uh Miller.

So if you go to our jack's ready app, the simplest way it's a free app.

If you download that app, it's based on GPS.

So if you're work, home, grocery store, whatever it is, it will tell you uh where your what zone you are in currently and your your residence.

So that's the best way to do it.

It's a free app that you can find out where what zone you live in.

And and where do they go to uh to get that app?

Our Jack's ready app.

If you just go to your cell phone and you go to the app store, download Jack's Ready app.

And then we also just mailed out currently we mailed out our um preparedness response guide to all Duvall County residents in in Duval County, so it's on there too how to register and know what zone you're in.

Okay, thank you very much.

Yes, sir.

Okay, if we go to item number one, please.

It's deferred, it's 2024 0966, deferred at the request of Councilmember Carico, Pastor President Keriko.

Number two, 2025 0361 is deferred at the request of Councilmember White.

Number three, 2026 is deferred at the request of Councilmember Diamond.

Number item number four, 2026 0318 is deferred at the request of Councilmember Johnson, and item number five, 2026 0319.

We have a motion on the amendment.

We have a motion and second on the amendment.

Uh Ms.

Reber, would you please explain the amendment?

The amendment will attach planning and development department's historic preservation section report as a new exhibit.

Um also include a waiver of section 122.105 B and C regarding the timeline for the historic preservation section report and the historic preservation commission advisory recommendation.

The report were submitted, they just weren't within the time frame allotted within the code.

Okay, thank you.

All those in favor of the amendment signified by saying yes.

All those opposed, no.

Uh the amendment passes.

I have a motion second on the bill as amended.

Um we have a couple people in the queue.

We'll go to pass President Keriko first.

Thank you very much for recognizing me, Mr.

Chair.

I just want to be added as a co-sponsor.

Love Warren Jones, great guy, great servant to this community, and uh want to be included on this.

Great.

Thank you, Vice Chair Clark Murray, please.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, through the chair to the committee, just to let everyone know, I know council member Freeman had a concern earlier today in rules, and I just want to quash his concern because past President uh Matt Carlucci, he did host a publicly noticed meeting, and he and I uh had an opportunity as well as a few other council members who are present to talk about this particular um honoring uh past president Warren Jones and and as most of you know uh Warren Jones, he is a um constituent in District 9, and I'm the council representative, so uh council member Carlucci and I are we are simpatico on this particular bill, and um of course it has my full support, and I am a co or co-introducer.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

We're going next to pass president Carlucci, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um first I uh want to thank uh council Tyrona, Councilmember uh Tyrone Clark Murray for her support.

She is the district council person, and uh but she's also very uh much a friend of uh councilmember Jones, and um and we did have a um notice meeting on this in which we talked about it.

Um I I really wanted a park named after council member Jones.

Uh but uh in talking with him and his family, and I've learned a long time ago, you never try to name anything after anybody without talking to uh that person andor his family first.

Um Warren, if you had his druthers, he he would be very humble, doesn't want anything named after him, but I convinced him, and then uh his wife Vanessa uh um further convinced him.

And uh so um he finally said, look, I I I really don't want a park named after me.

I if anything, I I want the um uh the ballpark at um Hammond Park named after me because he pretty much developed that, and that is quite complex, and so I'm very happy to do this for him.

Um the jud uh the park uh I found out is named after a former city commissioner of over 40 years named Joe Hammond, and he finally um uh his service came to an end sometime in the 19 early 1960s.

Um we couldn't name the park after Warren, but we could the baseball complex.

Um Warren Um I don't think I need to reiterate uh his legacy uh to this city, this community, and and to the people in general.

So I thank everybody here for their support and the those who added their name onto the bill.

Um I I I want to say one other thing, if I may, Mr.

Chair, and that is uh in this last year of mine on the council.

Um I will be um having some other bills come before the council, naming a few things after some folks that I know for uh decades have earned that right.

Um that honor, I should say, not right, but that honor.

And um so you might see a few of those come up, and um, and I just want to give you a heads up on that.

Uh there'll be one other one coming for Warren Jones because I think uh his service um warrants uh uh something a little additional, and that will be introduced at some point um in a uh in a number of of weeks.

I want to thank Carla Schell.

She has I have kept her busy on some of these bills uh in doing these, and uh one last thing is um uh well it slipped my mind in about three seconds ago, but anyway, I appreciate everybody's support and um and uh and if I uh if I if I think of that before if it's that important, I may ask you for some time at the end of the meeting, Mr.

Chair.

But thank you for allowing me the time to share all of that with this committee and for your kindness in allowing me to thank you.

All right, thank you.

Seeing no one else in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yay, zero nays.

By reaction, you've approved 2026 0319 as amended.

Item number six, 2026 0320 is deferred at the request of council member White.

Item 7, 2026 037 is deferred at the request of Councilmember Johnson.

Item number eight, 2026 zero four four five.

I have a motion on the amendment, please.

We have motion, second on the amendment.

Uh Ms.

Reber, would you explain the amendment, please?

Sure.

The amendment will correct the account information within the bill and attaches it revises exhibit one, the BT to correct the account information and attaches a resi revise exhibit two, the term sheet and budget to correct uh the budget narrative.

Thank you.

See no one in the queue, all those in favor of the amendment.

Please signify by saying yes.

All is opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

We have a motion and a second on the bill is amended.

Anyone in the queue?

No, no in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yay, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0445 as amended.

Item number nine, 2026 0448.

Maybe a motion on the amendment, please.

We have a motion.

Do I have a second?

I have a motion, second on the amendment.

Ms.

Reber, would you please explain the amendment?

The amendment will attach the Jacksonville Housing Community Development Commission meeting minutes reflecting the approval of the revised L HAP as a new exhibit.

It um places a revised L HAP on file to include the reference exhibits.

And this will clarify that the revised L HAP will increase the maximum award per unit for the new construction for ownership and rehabilitation slash new construction for rental.

Okay, we have uh two in the queue right now.

Uh council member Boylan, you're recognized.

Jeffrey, if we didn't mind coming down forward through the chair to Mr.

Jeffrey.

Uh the uh adjustment up to from 160 to 250.

Uh what was the thinking that went into that?

Uh what was the criteria said to say that would seem to be it's a fairly significant jump.

And I realize it's probably been a couple years since we've done so, but could you some thinking as to why we landed at 250 or 250,000?

Uh good afternoon.

Travis Jeffrey Housing Community Development Division.

Uh, through the chair to Councilman Boylan.

Um, we're asking to increase this based on the fact that we just can't build a house for 160 anymore.

Um by the time we have acquisition cost and JEA fees for sewer tie sewer and water tie-ins, we're just over that 160 mark.

Um this is for the 21 through 24 L HAP.

Uh, we also have the 24 through 27 LH in play as well.

Uh and the 24 through 27 already specifies 250 per home, and so we're just trying to match that.

Uh the ship dollars that we receive, we have three years to spend those funding, so we're kind of operating out of two L HAPs right now.

The the 24 funding is still available, so that's what we're working off of, in addition to the new L Hap that we're working out of as well.

Challenge in getting these construction, uh basically the 20 through 24 kind of piece that seems to be a lag.

We hear heard about deferral this deferring this morning.

As is that an issue in terms of getting uh permitting, getting builders, uh materials.

What's been the the lag time, the cause of the leg time?

Uh through the chair.

So we have, I mean, the state gives us three years for this funding.

Uh we have a little bit of lag in our owner-occupied rehab program, just being able to facilitate that fast enough, having enough um staff members, have enough contractors in the queue, have a little bit of a bottleneck there.

We are we do have an RFP out, uh we're gonna out start outsourcing some of the uh owner-occupied rehab, so we can hopefully expend those dollars a little bit faster.

Uh in addition to our uh single uh single family uh construction program that we created last year.

We're working on that now.

We have three coming out of the ground.

Uh and well, I guess we're in out of permitting, just about ready to come out of ground, and then we'll have another seven to eight following that as well.

All right, we'll go next to Vice Chair Clark Murray, please.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Good afternoon, Mr.

Deporty.

Good afternoon.

Um so I have a couple, first of all, the deferral that was mentioned by council member Boylan.

Is this one of the I know you have several bills that are before us today?

Is this one of the um programs that is time bound?

I know you said you have three years, but are you at this point if you're looking at um 21 three years after it's signed, right?

By Hood or by the city, one of the two.

So then with those three years, so but you do have it.

You it's time bound.

You don't have unlimited time, so a deferral will actually hurt this bill, correct?

Uh yes, through the chair.

Good uh councilwoman Clark Murray.

Yes, it would hurt us.

Um these are time bound.

We have some 24 funding in that first L HAP that has to be expended by by uh 27.

So yeah, we need to get these moving.

All right, thank you for that.

And then my question is I noticed that in the the asterisk on their um in our agenda, it talks about the two two increases, the 160 to 250, and then the 100,000 to 250,000.

That is not mentioned in the bill.

Do you it was there a previous bill that discussed the increase, or do we need to add an amendment to this bill?

How is that being um memorialized?

You know what I'm referring to, Mr.

Different.

Maybe Ms.

Rebar can um take that.

Reber can discuss it.

Through the chair to um Vice Chair Clerk Murray.

That is part of our amendment to clarify that those two programs are getting the increase per unit.

So it's clarified in our amendment.

Okay, all right.

Thank you for that.

That's the end of my questions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We'll next to council member Peluso.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Very, very in support of this bill, especially the owner occupied piece of this.

This is something we've talked about uh quite often.

I like to be uh uh written as a co-sponsor.

Thanks.

All right, thank you.

Um we're still on the amendment, right?

We haven't taken the vote on amendment.

Okay.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

I have a motion second on the bill as amended.

Uh we have uh vice chair clerk murray, you're you recognize.

Thank you, Chair.

I simply want to be added as a co-sponsor and um through the chair to the legislative services, just a heads up for all the bills in regards to housing.

I want to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Seeing no one else in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By reaction, you've approved 2026 0448 as amended.

Item number 10, 2026 0449.

We have we have a motion.

Do we have a second on the amendment?

We have a motion, second on the amendment.

Ms.

Reber, would you explain the amendment?

The amendment will attach the Jacksonville Housing Community Development Commission uh meeting minutes reflecting the approval of the revised LH, and then we'll place revised LHAP on file to include the reference exhibits.

Okay, thank you.

Um Councilmember Peluso, you recognize.

Thank you, Chair.

Copying what Councilwoman Clark Murray had said, please add me as a co-sponsor.

Okay.

No one else in the queue.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

We have motion second on the bill as amended.

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

Seven yay, zero nays.

By our action, you've approved 2026 zero four four nine as amended.

Item number 11, 2026.

We have a motion and second on the amendment.

Uh no one in the queue.

Oh, let me let me go.

But Miss Reber again here, please.

The amendment will revise the bill title and section one title to reference the sections of chapter 86 that are being amended and the addition of the may the mayor's liaison.

And it will correct the language in section 86.103B to reflect that the liaisons are designated and not appointed.

Okay, thank you.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

We have motion and second on the bill as amended.

Um anyone, anyone in the queue.

If you if you don't mind, uh, because I wasn't able to listen to everything this morning.

I I wanted to ask uh past President Salem.

Uh believe it we're listed.

You had a you had some comments uh this morning, so I I wanted to hear those comments if you don't mind.

Yeah, I I I was just concerned about having uh uh a mayor and council layers on to this committee and whether that would be precedent for doing that for a bunch of different committees that we have.

Uh I have the full confidence in councilmember Peloso to move whatever needs to be moved through the council or through the mayor's office to get something done.

And I I just think it's it's uh setting a bad precedent.

I I don't like it, so I'm I'm voting against it.

Thank you.

Um I'm gonna okay.

I won't I won't I was gonna make a couple comments there, but um council member boiling, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I appreciate Councilman Salem's comments, but I think what I understood, and perhaps we can get Mr.

Delaney to speak to this.

Uh the the intent of having a mayoral or administrative liaison is to make certain that the administration is re is able to report back to the to the body the progress they are making in the in the work that the committee has recommended.

So I think that was the purpose, if you will, for the liaison to report back and to provide some information as to the progress we're making in addressing the issue of homelessness through the chair to Mr.

Diney.

Uh through the through the chair to Mr.

Boylan.

Um, yes, that's correct.

Okay, we'll go next to Councilmember Peluso.

You recognize thank you, Chair.

And while I love the confidence that Councilmember Salem, if I pass Council President Salem has in me, um, I will not be here forever.

It's terrible, yeah.

It's only for this one time, I suppose.

Uh I will not be here forever, I'm afraid.

So um that this is meant to ensure that this uh this new commission that we created very recently created by the city council, so you know it was not created as a as a product of the administration.

And so because of that, I think when we established it, uh it's limited in in not limited, but we we created it in such a way that it didn't really have a direct connection to the executive branch, which has the funds in which we we need to get it dispersed out of.

And so this was a way to make sure that we had someone who works in the administration that can work with the finance department and with the other departments under the executive branch to be able to get the dollars out.

So it it was kind of a product of the the issue that we face is the product came out of the legislative side, and we didn't probably speak to the administration enough early on, and so I was kind of limited in my ability to get things done as the council liaison because we you know our part-time legislators on the legislative side, and we needed to make sure that we had someone on the executive side that can actually execute on the will of this body.

Thank you.

Past President Sammel, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

I I agree with much of what Councilmember Peluso said.

I just don't know that you need a liaison.

I think it's the obligation of the administration to make sure those dollars are are occurring, and who whoever that may be assigned by the administration to do that.

I just I'm a little just concerned that we're gonna perpetuate this to a bunch of other places, and I I just I don't want to be a part of starting that process.

That's all.

Thank you.

We'll go next to pass President Carlucci to recognize.

Um I what is the role of the liaison here?

What's the role?

And yeah, please go ahead.

Through the chair to Councilmember Carlucci.

I mean, I think that's kind of part of the question of all of this.

So right now the council liaison, as as I've seen it, and frankly, I've been the only council liaison thus far for this body.

Um I've been I've been providing guidance, and I've been providing sort of the intent of what this this body, the city council body has for the HIC.

So when they started going through the process of, okay, well, we want to you know use procurement for whatever method.

We want to, you know, the dollars that we appropriated to them.

How do we get those dollars out?

It wasn't up for the council to kind of help guide them through that process so much as it was the administration.

And so, because of the way we created the body, it doesn't really have the direct connection to the administration that we've had in other bodies.

So this was a good way to make sure that you had a direct connection now.

Well, uh, my concern with liaisons as of late is liaisons are uh from the council to different authorities and and out of this and are becoming almost like their default members of the authorities or the commissions and so forth.

And uh I I don't want to see that.

I want to see these commissions work on the set on on their own.

I won't see the authorities, I don't want to see politics mixed into the authorities, and that's what's been happening there.

Um I think a lot of times they're supposed to be an arm's length distance.

Now, this is the commission, not an authority, but I I don't see one council member over there directing this commission on how they should be doing their work.

Um so uh I'll I'll probably vote for it, but I'm just gonna say um that these liaisons, you know, uh I th I think we're overstepping their boundaries sometimes, and they're supposed to observe and come back and talk to the council.

That's it.

Nothing else.

Authorities were supposed to be on their own without politics.

That was the intent of consolidation.

Politicians weren't supposed to be sticking their nose in their business.

I was and I'm not sure with this commission that one council member out of 19 should be sticking their nose in that commission's business because the other 18 council members may have a difference of opinion.

So we've got to trust whoever that liaison is to make sure that they are providing guidance that is um that that is um that that that is good guidance and not agenda driven guidance.

We've had too much agenda-driven guidance.

And all of this kind of stuff starts chipping away at the consolidated form of government.

And I've had I've waited a while to say this, but I've been watching it.

And it really bothers me, and I can tell you it's bothering a lot of other people, particularly in the civic in the business community, watching what's been going on.

So I'll watch this, but um but there's ways that these commissions and uh uh that that that they could be supported without a liaison going in and then all of a sudden becoming a default member of that commission because you're not that's not your role.

You're not a voter, voting member, and you're not there to try to influence voting.

And this council needs to understand that.

And if not, they need to go back and read a quiet revolution, and then they'll get it.

Thank you.

I will go back to Councilmember Peluso, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair, and through the chair to Councilmember Carlucci, your words are are are from a place of wisdom.

I understand that good sir.

Uh I think myself as a liaison, especially on this body, it's mainly to be sort of the the voice of the city council where our opinion is on certain things, and then to help provide um, you know, whenever they have questions like, oh, what's city council thinking about for X, Y, and Z that involves our our commission, I usually provide that that information.

I'm I'm there kind of as just a conduit, and I believe that's going the same thing with this mayoral appointee, that they are going to be a conduit to help provide sort of where the the administration and the executive branch's head is at on ways to kind of what their expectation is and vice versa.

So they're meant to be the HIC says, okay, well, how do we get these dollars out?

That liaison is meant to now go to the finance department and everything else to help make sure the dollars get out appropriately.

The biggest issue in the past has been um that there uh there just wasn't that direct connection.

And when we created the body, when we created the HIC, um we have the housing department uh or the housing division under neighborhoods as the the staffers who staff that committee or the commission.

And so because of that, it's very different than JSAB, PSG, Kids Hope Alliance, all the others, where you kind of have the grant the grant folks and the procurement folks way more involved.

And that wasn't the case here, and so it became really muddled as to how we get these dollars out.

So this is just a way to help make sure that we get the dollars out faster and to make sure that there's a better communication.

It's uh it's a new commission, and I think we just kind of created it a little bit different than in the past, and we're trying to make those corrections now.

Thank you.

All right.

I see no one else to queue.

I I must say I don't see what this does to change anything.

Umfortunately, uh, and I've watched and I've been to many of the first meetings for this commission that we put together.

Um long time ago, Dr.

Poulson was designated as the administration's point person on homeless related matters, and I've met with her previously when this all started.

So I'm really not sure what this legislation does.

I really don't know.

Um, because I believe as we currently stand without appointing a liaison from the administration, they have the ability to do everything now that they could do after this legislation passes.

So I if this were more specific to say talk about the process and what steps would be taken and the administration agrees, this is the path they'll pursue.

But what I see happening is we just they just seem kind of frozen in time, even though there's uh city council liaison and there is an administration rep that is tied in with the current commission.

Um it's it's a matter of inaction on the part of the various players.

Um, yeah, I don't I don't see what this does one way or another.

I mean, I'm really okay with it, but then are we gonna do this for every board or commission?

Are we gonna put legislation through to say the administration needs to have in writing uh a liaison to every one of these boards and commissions?

I I just don't know.

Am I am I missing something here uh to my colleagues?

But I I just don't see the the need for this.

I don't see what this changes.

Yeah.

Um we'll go over to uh Mr.

Delaney, please.

Uh thank you.

Uh uh to the chair into the body.

Um try to answer just a couple of the questions as we see it.

Uh we do have Dr.

Polson you know involved in homelessness uh uh programs across the city, but don't have an official liaison.

Uh the setup is currently that the board or the commission rather can you know make the uh the request to direct department heads, but we didn't have a real mechanism to be able to go give that out.

We need it to be somebody that's like higher up and not embedded within one department.

Um so that was the thinking on our end there.

Um somebody that can share the will of the board to all the various departments because it's not just touching one.

Um and uh in fact any one initiative that they do might touch several.

Um and then the other thing is the way that we do it now, like we can commit Dr.

Paulson to go.

Future mayors may not have somebody in mind that they want to can that they want to always have going to this, but this is gonna be a recurring need.

So having the structure there, uh having a way for the HIC to be able to communicate to someone high level at the administration to be able to put their will out, uh, we feel will be beneficial uh to getting the money out and getting it on the street uh faster than you know that then it otherwise might be all right.

Thank you.

Okay.

I I heard uh heard a recommendation on a vote.

I I agree.

Um let's see.

Did we yeah, we already took the vote on the amendment, correct?

Okay.

Um right, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Four yes, three nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0489 as amended.

We'll go.

We'll go next to um item number 12, 2026 0490.

We have a motion.

Do I have do I have a second on the amendment?

Uh we have a motion, second on the amendment.

Ms.

Reber, please explain the amendment.

The amendment will attach revised exhibit one, the BT to correct account codes and attach a HUD award schedule as a new exhibit.

All right, no one in the queue.

All is in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

We have a motion on the bill is amended.

Do we have a second?

We have a second.

Um no one in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yay, zero nays.

By your action, you approve 2026 0490 as amended.

Item number 13, 2026 zero four nine one.

We have a motion, and we have a second on the amendment, motion and second on the amendment.

Uh Ms.

Reber, please explain the amendments.

The amendment will correct the reprogrammed appropriation amount to one million eighty one thousand three hundred and eleven twenty-eight cents.

And then the total appropriation amount to eight million one hundred and sixty-seven thousand two hundred and sixty-three twenty-eight cents.

It will attach revised exhibit two schedule the funding to correct the amounts.

It attaches the revised exhibit three, which is the RC to include the deauthorization and authorization of three thousand part-time hours.

Um attaches a HUD award schedule as a new exhibit and corrects um a scrivener's area error error, sorry.

Okay.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

All those opposed, no, the amendment passes.

We have a motion, second on the bill as amended.

We have passed President Carico, you're in the queue, you're recognized her.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I just want to reflect I did not uh vote yes or no on the amendment as I wanted to ask our general counsel representative if because this is C D B G dollars.

I typically abstain from all of them.

I know this package in particular doesn't have anything to do with uh my employer, the boys and girls club, and you had sent me a memo on this.

So I just wanted to check in with you on the record if I was clear to vote or if I needed to abstain from this CDBG uh through the chair to council member carico.

So I I have the available the information I have available to me is what's included in the legislative packet, which does not reflect that boys and girls clubs is receiving any funding through this legislation.

However, if there's a if there's any knowledge that you would have or concern that you would have that there's the potential that boys and girls could receive funding through one of these recipients that's being funded, then I would recommend that you abstain until we can drill down on that to confirm.

Um but otherwise I don't see anything in this legislation to suggest that you all are your employer is receiving any funding this cycle.

Uh thank you for that.

And just out of abundance of caution, just because we do frequently apply for CDBG funding for the boys and girls love for various projects.

I just rather never be involved in a vote that has to do with CDBG.

So I will abstain out of abundance of caution due to a potential conflict with my employer, the boys and girls clubs in Northeast Florida, who has consistently received funding from CDBG in the past.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh nothing else.

Please open the ballot, record your vote.

Six yay, zero nays, one abstention.

By reaction, you've approved 2026 0491 as amended.

We'll now go to the next page, item 14, 2026, 0492.

Move the amendment.

We have a motion, second on the amendment.

Uh Ms.

Reber, please explain the amendment.

The amendment will reorder the definitions alphabetically and correct a scrivener's error.

All right, thank you.

No one in the queue.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

Move the bill as amended.

We motion second on the bill as amended.

Anyone in the queue, no?

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

I don't want to hear Boylan say not just we.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By your action, you approve 2026 0492 as amended.

Yeah, I heard his explanation this morning.

So you you might want to go and watch and listen if you want to hear those phrases.

Um okay, we'll now go to item number 15, 2026 0493.

May it have a motion and do I have a second on the amendment.

How about Jimmy?

We have motion, second on the amendment.

Uh Ms.

Reber, please explain the amendment.

The amendment will revise the appropriation language to clarify the accounts within the bill.

Attach a revise exhibit one BBT to correct account information and include reversion of funds, and attach a revise exhibit two, which are the CIP sheets to correct funding sources for the Fort Family Regional Additional Amenities Project.

Okay, thank you.

We have Past President Caracter, excuse me, Carico.

You're recognized.

Uh thank you.

Just want to be added as a co-sponsor, both Fort Family and the Deerwood Rotary have uh done great work down there in District 11, my neighboring district in uh putting their own dollars and raising money into this park.

So the to see councilman Arius um double down and and and throw some of his CBA dollars into this to make uh improvements.

So is what is one of our best regional parks in the city.

I just want to be part of that.

So please add me.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

We'll go next past President Carlucci.

You're recognized.

Thank you.

I would like my name added to this, as I was the councilman for the district and developed that park when it began and had it purchased from the Skinner family long time ago in 2002.

All right, thank you.

See no one else in the queue.

Please open the ballot and record your vote.

Oh, oh, lost track.

Sorry about that.

Thanks for the check.

Um, all those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Yes, all those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

Move the bill as amended.

We have a motion and second on the bill is amended.

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

Seven yay, zero nays.

By your action, you've approved 2026 0493 as amended.

Yeah, sorry for pushing a little quick there.

Uh we'll go next to item number 16, 2026 0494.

We have a motion, second uh on the amendment.

Ms.

Reber, you know, it seems like we have a number of items here.

Please explain the amendment.

The amendment will correct the appropriation amount to 1,338,737 21 cents, which includes uh 504,441 dollars in revenue collected from the foreclosure registry and eight hundred and thirty-four thousand two hundred ninety-six and twenty-one cents in reallocated funds.

And then this uh attach a revised exhibit B to correct those amounts.

Thank you.

No one in the queue.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

Move the bill as amended.

We have motion and second on the bill as amended.

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

Seven yes, zero nays.

By our action, you've approved 2026 0494 as amended.

We'll go to item number 17, 2026, 0495.

We have a motion and do we have a second on the amendment?

We have motion, second on the amendment.

Ums Carriher, uh, excuse me, Miss Rever, please explain the amendment.

The amendment will correct the project location to council district two.

All right, thank you.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

Move the bill as amended.

We have a motion and we have a second.

On the bill as amended.

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

Seven yes, zero nays.

By reaction, you've approved 2026 zero four nine five as amended.

Go to item 18, 2026 0496.

Do we have a motion on that bill?

We have motion second on the bill.

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

Seven yes, zero nays.

By your action, you approve 2026 0496.

We'll next go to the next page, item number 19, 2026 0497.

And motion and second on the amendment.

Ms.

Reber, please.

The amendment will attach the HUD award schedule as a new exhibit and correct the scriptner's error.

Okay.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

The bill as amended.

We have motion, second on the bill as amended.

Um we have vice chair clerk Murray on the queue.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Through the chair to Mr.

Jeffries.

Good afternoon again.

Just a quick question.

I notice that many of these bills, they have positions attached to them.

Are these new positions or existing positions?

Um Travis Jeffrey Housing and Community Development Division through the chair to Councilwoman McClellary.

These are all existing positions, no new positions.

All right.

Thank you for that.

Thank you, Chair.

Okay.

And I, Mr.

Jeffrey, I'm sorry, I shouldn't uh let you sit down.

I have a question too.

Just you know, this isn't the first time, obviously, that these federal funds have come through for this purpose, uh, but I've never heard anyone speak to the magnitude of the people, the number of people were helping through this program.

Um can you give me some idea of of what level of assistance we're actually getting, how many people were actually helping through this program?

Wow.

Through the chair.

I'm sorry, we don't we don't I don't have that information on me.

I can definitely pull it together and email it to the whole body as to who we're helping with each individual grant that we receive.

We track all those numbers.

I just I'm not prepared with the same thing.

Yeah, just I mean, like a lot of things.

I just like to see, you know, for the dollars we're we're getting and and we're putting out there.

Um, you know, what what are the what is the value added we're getting for that uh or return or whatever you want to refer to it as and and my other question is other other programs like this that have a specific group that's it's you know challenged with the disease or medical conditions.

Do we have other programs like this?

Um or is this kind of a standalone uh through these these federal funds that we're they were receive every year?

Yeah, uh through the chair.

So within our division, these are our standalone programs.

This is the only funding source that has that.

All right, thank you.

If you'll get me, you know, that that magnitude of assistance we're we're able to achieve through this.

That would be great.

Absolutely.

Um no one else in the queue, please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero and a's by reaction you've approved 2026 0497 as amended.

Uh we'll go next to item 20, 2026, 0498.

We have a motion, second on the amendment.

Ms.

Brewer, please explain the amendment.

The amendment will attach a revised exhibit one, the BT to correct an account code and attach a revised exhibit two of the schedule of funding to correct a uh reference noted.

Okay, thank you.

No one in the queue, all those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Yes, all those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

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

We have past president Salem in the queue.

You recognize, sir.

Thank you, Chair.

Through the chair, Mr.

Jeffries.

Uh I'm a big um believer in down payment assistance, as you've probably heard me many times.

And there's two groups in this one.

Um, one of 750 and one of 700,000.

Is there a limit to or a maximum that a person can get through this program for down payment assistance?

So through the chair to councilman Salem, two different programs theoretically.

That's we have one, we have our H2H program, head start to home ownership.

It's up to 25,000 dollars.

And then last year we went through and led had created legislation for the single family uh new construction program that was going to build homes for individuals that were 50 percent AMI and below, and that second set of funding is strictly for those homes.

So it's tied directly to those homes.

Through the chair, Mr.

Jeffreys, do you have do any of these programs, these or others have a program where over a period of time they pay back that down payment assistance, you know, over a five or ten year period, or is this is it down payment assistance it's done and we're through with it?

So through the chair, um these are all deferred payments, so as long as they stay in the home, it's either a 510 or a 15-year lien that we place on the property, depending on the amount of funding that we provide to them.

Uh, if they stay in the property for 15 years, then that lien will actually go away.

Uh if they sell it or or you know move out of the home and buy a different home, but they choose to rent that one instead, then they would pay us a prorated version of that.

So that's essentially the bike that I'm looking for.

They have to stay in the house for a long period of time to keep the total down payment.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Thank you, Chair.

That helps me tremendously.

Thank you.

Um let's see.

We are to vote on the amendment.

Is that correct?

Okay.

Anyone else?

Uh please open the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yes, zero nays.

By reaction, you've approved 2026 0498 as amended.

We go to item 21 2026, 0499.

May have a motion on the amendment, please.

We have motion second on the amendment.

Ms.

Reber, would you please explain the amendment?

The amendment will attach the HUD award schedule as a new exhibit and correct the appropriation fiscal year to 2627.

Okay.

All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying yes.

Yes.

All those opposed, no.

The amendment passes.

Move the bill as amended.

We have a motion, and do we have a second?

Um motion and second on the bill is amended.

Pass president Salem.

You you recognize thank you, Chair.

Mr.

Jeffries, how were these particular organizations identified to receive these funds?

Uh through the chair of council and Salem.

We have a universal application process uh for three of these entitlement grants that come in, the CDBG, um housing or CBG, ESG, and um HOPWA all apply through this process.

It starts in December.

We have a couple training sessions, and then we go through a whole process where we rate rank and review and then provide recommend funding.

Who who and I think I may have had this discussion previously.

Who ranks them?

Is there a is there a committee that does that?

Are they all in your shop or how does that work?

I'm excited.

What do you mean write them, sir?

I I I said rank them.

Oh I I thought you said they apply and then they're ranked.

I'm sorry, ranked, yes.

So we have two internal staff and one consultant that helps us do the rating and ranking.

Okay.

I think that's consistent with I heard before.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

We'll next go to Vice Chair Clark Murray.

You recognize thank you, Chair.

Um I see, Mr.

Jeffrey, that there are cash match matches that are available, but are required, but it can be any type of um there are various ways that they can meet that cat cash match.

So who is responsible for that?

The entities or the persons that receive the funding, or how or is that something that an honest that's on the city?

Uh through the chair, so the the um actual subrecipients are um required to have that match.

Okay, and then there's one other aspect that was just a little um vague for me.

So on page four of the bill, there's like a $50,000 that's being paid.

Who is paying that?

Is that coming from the um agreement?

Is that the city?

Who is paying that amount?

So through the chair, so um federal HUD requires us to manage an HMIS system or to have an HMIS systems.

Uh it's a homeless management system where we can track all of the clients that come in.

And so we pay um a change in homelessness fifty thousand dollars to maintain and manage that system that all of the nonprofits have to use.

Okay.

All right, thank you for that.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Jeffrey, to follow up on that question.

Um that in this case changing homelessness receives for that data collection because they receive other federal funds to be the continuum of care provider, and that includes managing that system.

So I'm not quite sure.

Um, are we paying them an additional amount on top of what they're already receiving to do that job?

Through the chair, I do believe they receive some additional dollars through the COC, but I I couldn't speak to how much.

Okay, I just want to make sure we're not paying them for something they're already paid to do, uh, if that makes sense.

Right.

So we're we're actually paying them to manage the system for our ESG and and now for our HOPWA funds as well.

Uh the HUD doesn't require it, it is not a mandate for them to put everything in the HMIS with HOPWA, but it was just something that uh we found that we could track the clientele better.

Um and we could tell make sure that the clients weren't shopping in each individual or sub-recipient.

So they're managing both those.

Yeah, no, I get the goodness in using the system.

I just want to make sure uh we're not paying for the same service that is already being paid for um and and function.

Um okay, shifting from that.

Um this this speaks to uh an earlier comment, but can you tell me specifically?

Um who is applied for funding?

I see who the money is going to.

The funding is broken down here uh on our packet.

Um, but it just seems there are a few main players here that didn't receive any of this funding, and is it because they didn't apply?

Uh there were a couple and I'll just give you a couple examples.

I I'll just off the top of my head.

Um city rescue mission.

I don't see them listed on here.

They're obviously main players on the front end of emergency housing, and so was just curious if they didn't they didn't uh apply.

So through the chair, neither one of those entities applied for funding.

Okay, well, that explains it then.

All right.

No one else?

And uh, yes, sorry for the memory lapse here, but we're ready to vote.

Is that correct?

Okay, gonna nod down here.

Um all right, no one else, please open the the ballot and record your vote.

Seven yay, zero and nays.

By reaction you've approved 2026, 499 as amended.

And then we go to item 22, 2026, 0535 is on second read.

Also on second read or 2026 0536 and 260537, uh on second read as well, 2026, 2026, 2026, 2026, 2026, 2026, and also on second read item 31, 2026.

Um thank you all for being on the neighborhoods uh council and thanks everyone who attended.

Um let's make this a great year.

Um thank you all.

God bless.

Uh we're adjourned.