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Record of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee Meeting - August 31, 2026

City Council — Monday, August 31, 2026
BodyJacksonville, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, August 31, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:53:34

Original source
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0:01

All right, good morning, everyone.

0:02

We'll get started with our Monday, August 31st rules meeting, and we'll start with introductions to my left with Mr.

0:14

Dennis.

0:15

Good morning, Garrett Dennis Administration.

0:21

Mr.

0:22

Carriher, Council Auditor's Office.

0:24

I'll be Pittman, District 10.

0:26

Ron Salem, group two at large.

0:28

Canamar, City Council, District 1.

0:31

Mike Gay, District 2.

0:33

Will Lane, District 3.

0:36

Good morning, Tyrone Clack Murray, District 9.

0:38

Good morning, Michael Buena, District 6.

0:41

Randy White, District 12, just visiting.

0:43

Nick Island at large group three.

0:46

Matt Carlucci at large group four.

0:48

Just visiting.

0:49

Well, good morning, everyone.

0:51

Thank you, visiting council members, for being here and welcome Councilmember Clark Murray to the rules committee.

0:59

So with that, do we have any uh public comment?

1:04

I'm sorry.

1:06

Okay.

1:11

All right, our first speaker be Mr.

1:14

B uh Steven Tocknell.

1:16

Uh come on down.

1:18

You'll have uh three minutes to speak and reference to a bill on our agenda.

1:35

Yeah.

1:40

Do you do you wish to speak?

1:42

Yes, sir.

1:42

Uh come on, come on down, give you give your uh name and address for the record, and you'll have uh three minutes.

1:49

Thank you, sir.

1:50

Okay.

1:50

Uh my name is Terry Caldwell.

1:52

I'm representing my mother, Betty Joe Caldwell, who is on community hospice um 3628, Hermitage Road East, Jacksonville, Florida, 3227.

2:02

Um I'm here to formally um file a um a complaint against um Mr.

2:10

or try to prevent an appointment to the qualifying licensing board by Mr.

2:14

Julio Aleo, A L A Y O to the contractor licensing board.

2:20

My objection uh at first I had emailed uh Mr.

2:24

Amaro's office and uh the mayor deegan's office.

2:27

I still and I left a voice message at Mr.

2:30

Mara's office as well.

2:32

Um still haven't heard back, but I am um formally objecting to the possible appointment of Mr.

2:38

Leo.

2:39

Um my objections based on firsthand experience of Mr.

2:43

Aleo and his company, Central Heating and Air Conditioning, LLC.

2:48

Um, regarding an HVAC installation of my elderly mother, uh elderly mother.

2:56

Um the company engaged in predatory business practices, including incomplete and unlicensed work.

3:03

They began the work without pulling city permits and left the job half completed until they were fined by the city.

3:09

Standard substandard workmanship, the eventual installation failed.

3:14

City inspection.

3:15

Furthermore, another contractor, cornerstone, had later discovered central heating and air, had improperly reduced the copper lines from seven eighth cents to five eighth cents, which caused a catastrophic failure and burned out the new compressor within three weeks.

3:30

Evading regulatory oversight after I filed a complaint with the city.

3:34

The city abruptly closed the mechanical permits to avoid the company abruptly closed the mechanical permits to avoid municipal scrutiny, which prevented the licensing qual license qualifying board from reviewing a complaint.

3:50

Lack of accountability, they refused to remedy the failed system, withheld their insurance information from legal aid, and ensued on cease and issued a cease and desist letter filled with falsehoods that I can disprove with photographic text and diagnostic evidence.

4:09

Any individual who consistently violates city codes, bades regulatory scrutiny, and takes advantage of vulnerable citizens as morally unfit to serve on the board, tasked with upholding industry standards.

4:24

I have pictures, proof.

4:26

Legal aid tried to help us, they couldn't do it.

4:29

They sent a cease and desist that letter, and I have proof that I that some of these are falsehoods.

4:34

I can't get the city licensing board, um, the qualifying license board to review it.

4:39

He closed out mechanics.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment██████████████████18%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Personnel Matters█████████████████17%
Transportation Safety███████████████15%
Public Safety█████████9%
Public Works██████6%
Arts And Culture████4%
Zoning And Land Use████4%
Ethics and Governance███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee Meeting - August 31, 2026

The Rules Committee of the Jacksonville City Council convened on Monday, August 31, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Council Chamber, City Hall. The meeting was chaired by Mike Gay with Vice Chair Ken Amaro and members Michael Boylan, Tyrona Clark-Murray, Will Lahnen, Ju'Coby Pittman, and Ron Salem present. Council President Howland and other council members visited. The meeting adjourned at 10:53 AM.

Consent Calendar / Unanimous Approvals

  • 2026-0630 (Appointment of Corey Ford to Construction Trades Qualifying Board): Approved 8-0.
  • 2026-0590 (Firearms preemption compliance): Approved 8-0 after amendments to strike "weapons or" and correct gender references.
  • 2026-0635 (Honorary street designation "Haskell Way"): Approved 7-0 after amendment correcting district to 5 and document revisions.
  • 2026-0645 (Contract with Downtown Vision for James Weldon Johnson Park): Approved 7-0 after amendments including reducing excess liability from $4M to $2M.
  • 2026-0683 (Hispanic Heritage Month resolution): Approved 7-0.
  • 2026-0684 (Honoring Rev. Dr. Conley H. Hughes): Approved 7-0.
  • 2026-0685 (Honoring African American Women's History Month Project): Approved 7-0.
  • 2026-0686 (Honoring Elder Samuel Coleman): Approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Terry Caldwell (representing his mother) formally objected to the appointment of Julio Alayo to the Construction Trades Qualifying Board, citing incomplete and unlicensed HVAC work, failed inspection, and predatory practices. He urged the committee not to appoint Mr. Alayo.
  • John J. Nooney (Jacksonville resident) spoke on multiple agenda items, including home occupations (Item 7) and e-bike regulation (Item 10), and referenced a number of other topics.
  • Stephen Tocknell (President of Pedaling for Safety/North Florida Bicycle Club) expressed support for the general objectives of the e-bike regulation bill (Item 10) but urged setting speed limits consistent with state statute and called for separated bike lanes and better connectivity. He noted rising e-bike injuries, especially among youth.

Discussion Items

  • Item 8 (2026-0517) - Appointment of Julio Alayo: The appointee defended his record, noting the complaint was from a home warranty job and that he had learned from it. Committee members expressed concerns about the unresolved issue and deferred the item for 30 days to allow resolution.
  • Item 9 (2026-0545) - Appointment of Toni Smailagic to Cultural Council: Withdrawn after appointee was told a financial contribution was expected. Council members clarified that city appointees should not be required to make financial commitments. The withdrawal was approved 8-0.
  • Item 10 (2026-0570) - Electric Bicycle regulations: Extensive discussion on speed limits, enforcement, signage costs, and safety. Councilmember Boylan proposed a substitute with a 15 mph speed limit. JSO Chief Stronko stated enforcement would divert traffic resources. OGC noted state law requires a 15 mph max if regulating sidewalk use. The committee deferred the item to address outstanding issues.
  • Item 7 (2026-0376) - Home Occupation zoning amendments: Substituted and approved 8-0 to align with state statute, removing home occupations from certain residential districts and adding them to commercial/residential districts.
  • Item 12 (2026-0590) - Firearms preemption compliance: Approved with amendments correcting gender references and striking "weapons or" language to comply with Florida preemption statutes.
  • Item 15 (2026-0635) - Honorary street designation for Preston H. Haskell: Approved after amendment correcting district to District 5 and refining documents. Waivers granted for deceased requirement and residency requirement.
  • Item 16 (2026-0645) - Contract with Downtown Vision for James Weldon Johnson Park: Approved with amendments including reporting quarterly, DVI responsibility for mowing, alcohol sales language, and lowered excess liability limit.

Key Outcomes

  • Withdrawn: Item 2 (2025-0775, lobbying restrictions) 7-0; Item 9 (2026-0545, Cultural Council appointment) 8-0.
  • Deferred: Items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 (2026-0517, appointment of Julio Alayo), 11 (2026-0588), 13 (2026-0624), and 10 (2026-0570, e-bikes) with 30-day deferrals or pending further information.
  • Approved: Items 7 (home occupations), 12 (firearms compliance), 14 (Corey Ford appointment), 15 (Haskell Way), 16 (James Weldon Johnson Park contract), 29-32 (resolutions) all unanimously.
  • Read 2nd & Rereferred: Items 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 (appointment), 28, 33 for further committee consideration.
  • Next Steps: The committee directed the administration to resolve the Alayo issue within 30 days. The e-bike bill will be revisited after assessing enforcement and signage costs.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good morning, everyone. We'll get started with our Monday, August 31st rules meeting, and we'll start with introductions to my left with Mr. Dennis. Good morning, Garrett Dennis Administration. Mr. Carriher, Council Auditor's Office. I'll be Pittman, District 10. Ron Salem, group two at large. Canamar, City Council, District 1. Mike Gay, District 2. Will Lane, District 3. Good morning, Tyrone Clack Murray, District 9. Good morning, Michael Buena, District 6. Randy White, District 12, just visiting. Nick Island at large group three. Matt Carlucci at large group four. Just visiting. Well, good morning, everyone. Thank you, visiting council members, for being here and welcome Councilmember Clark Murray to the rules committee. So with that, do we have any uh public comment? I'm sorry. Okay. All right, our first speaker be Mr. B uh Steven Tocknell. Uh come on down. You'll have uh three minutes to speak and reference to a bill on our agenda. Yeah. Do you do you wish to speak? Yes, sir. Uh come on, come on down, give you give your uh name and address for the record, and you'll have uh three minutes. Thank you, sir. Okay. Uh my name is Terry Caldwell. I'm representing my mother, Betty Joe Caldwell, who is on community hospice um 3628, Hermitage Road East, Jacksonville, Florida, 3227. Um I'm here to formally um file a um a complaint against um Mr. or try to prevent an appointment to the qualifying licensing board by Mr. Julio Aleo, A L A Y O to the contractor licensing board. My objection uh at first I had emailed uh Mr. Amaro's office and uh the mayor deegan's office. I still and I left a voice message at Mr. Mara's office as well. Um still haven't heard back, but I am um formally objecting to the possible appointment of Mr. Leo. Um my objections based on firsthand experience of Mr. Aleo and his company, Central Heating and Air Conditioning, LLC. Um, regarding an HVAC installation of my elderly mother, uh elderly mother. Um the company engaged in predatory business practices, including incomplete and unlicensed work. They began the work without pulling city permits and left the job half completed until they were fined by the city. Standard substandard workmanship, the eventual installation failed. City inspection.

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