Jacksonville CRA Meetings – King Soutel Crossing & Renew Arlington – August 11, 2026
Jacksonville CRA Meetings – King Soutel Crossing & Renew Arlington – August 11, 2026
On August 11, 2026, the Jacksonville City Council convened two consecutive Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) meetings: the King Soutel Crossing CRA and the Renew Arlington CRA. Both meetings addressed fiscal year-end fund reallocations, program guideline amendments, and routine approvals. Votes were conducted by ballot with unanimous approval on all items.
Consent Calendar
- King Soutel Crossing CRA: Approval of the May 12, 2026, meeting minutes. Passed unanimously by voice vote.
- Renew Arlington CRA: Approval of the May 12, 2026, meeting minutes. Passed unanimously by voice vote.
Discussion Items
- King Soutel Crossing CRA – Reallocation of $3,967,365: Karen Nasralla, Office of Economic Development (OED) staff, explained that remaining unallocated funds from the fiscal year must be assigned to an existing program or project. The King Soutel Crossing Advisory Board had recommended adding these funds to the New King's Road Capital Improvements Project, a multi-phase infrastructure project covering approximately 2.2 miles from Soutel Drive to Trout River Boulevard. The reallocation was approved 13–0.
- King Soutel Crossing CRA – Amendment to Building Renovation Grant Program: Ms. Nasralla presented a policy change to include security cameras as an eligible expense when combined with an eligible exterior improvement project. The amendment was requested by the advisory board to prevent blight and reduce crime. Council member Mr. Amero asked whether this would apply to other CRAs; Ms. Nasralla confirmed it is specific to King Soutel Crossing. The resolution (KSC CRA 2026-04) passed 14–0.
- Renew Arlington CRA – Allocation of $2,515,397.66: Ms. Nasralla noted the package was updated to include investment earnings of approximately $118,000 on advice from the council auditor. The funds were allocated to the Mandatory Compliance Grant Program, which is expected to continue for about two more years. Resolution RA CRA 2026-05 passed 14–0.
- Renew Arlington CRA – Amendment to Mandatory Compliance Grant Program Guidelines: Ms. Nasralla presented a redlined policy change (page 17) clarifying that property owners within the CRA boundary who are also general contractors must have all work procured and performed by independent third parties. The Office of General Counsel recommended the edit to close loopholes and protect program integrity. Resolution RA CRA 2026-06 passed 14–0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ernest Smith (Vice Chair, King Soutel Crossing CRA Advisory Board): During the King Soutel Crossing meeting, Mr. Smith raised a procedural concern about security checkpoint setup at the meeting venue. He stated that security was not set up with adequate time to allow attendees to enter before the meeting started, potentially preventing public comment on action items. He noted he arrived while the last action item was being concluded.
Key Outcomes
- King Soutel Crossing CRA:
- Approved minutes of May 12, 2026.
- Reallocated $3,967,365 to the New King's Road Capital Improvements Project (vote: 13–0).
- Approved amendment to the King Soutel Crossing Building Renovation Grant Program to allow security camera funding when combined with eligible projects (vote: 14–0).
- Renew Arlington CRA:
- Approved minutes of May 12, 2026.
- Allocated $2,515,397.66 to the Mandatory Compliance Grant Program (vote: 14–0).
- Approved amendment to Mandatory Compliance Grant Program guidelines requiring independent third parties for work (vote: 14–0).
Staff also noted that annual CRA schedules had been distributed on July 31, 2026, and a quarterly status report for the Mandatory Compliance Grant Program was provided.
Meeting Transcript
You need 13. Okay. All right. We I call to order the King Soutel Crossing CRA meeting and uh legislative services. Please announce if we have a quorum. We have a quorum. All right. Thank you very much. First order of business is approval of the May 12, 2026 minutes. Uh this vote does not require public comment. Um we will take this vote verbally unless there's any speakers who want to comment on the minutes on the queue. Move the minutes. We'll call for a motion. We have a motion and a second on the minutes. See no speakers in the queue. We'll take the vote verbally. All in favor of the minutes indicated by saying aye. Aye. All against say no. Minutes pass. All right. So the next agenda item is the consideration of relocation of 3.967 million 365 dollars in funding to New King's Road Capital Improvement Project before we take a motion. As long as you're okay with this, Ms. Stephopolis, we'll hear from Miss Nasrella. Good afternoon and thank you. Karen Nasralla, OED staff. We are at the end of fiscal year. We're remaining funding and unallocated authorized plan authorized expenditures must be allocated to an ex to an existing program or project, or we need to create a new program or project. The King Soutel Crossing Advisory Board voted unanimously to make the recommendation to you that we continue funding the new King's Road Capital Improvements Project, which is a multi-phase multi-year infrastructure project and an endeavor consisting of several projects, which includes uh relocating of some infrastructure, creation of new infrastructure at 295, new sidewalks, crosswalks, uh, landscape medians, many other projects involved over a 2.2 mile area from uh Suitel Drive to New Uh to Trout River Boulevard. So there is a remaining balance of 3 million 967,365. That would be added to the new King's Road Capital Improvements Project if you approve it today. With that, I can happy to address any questions. All right, I see no speakers in the queue. Let's see if there's any public comment. Have we received any cards? We have received none. We'll entertain a motion to consider to reallocate that amount listed. We have a motion and a second on a motion to reallocate 3,967, 365 dollars in front of the new King's Road Capital Improvements Project. See no speakers in the queue. Uh we take the vote verbally. We take it by ballot. All right, please open the ballot and accord your vote. 13 yes, zero nays. All right, by your vote, the motion passes. Um the next agenda item is the consideration of amending the King's Hutel Crossing Building Renovation Grant Program. Miss Nasrella, if you'd please extend. Yes, sir. Thank you. This item is a policy consideration by you on page 12 of your packages. Uh you have a copy of the King's Seattle Crossing Building Improvement Grant Program Guidelines.
openpublica.com