Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Meeting – September 1, 2026

The Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee of the Jacksonville City Council met on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the Council Chamber. Chair Ken Amaro presided, with all seven members present. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 AM. The committee approved four items, deferred two items, and held discussions on upcoming notice meetings and budget amendments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Carnell Oliver spoke on Item 2026-0633 (traffic calming funds for District 5). He expressed frustration with the distribution of capital improvement funds and advocated for a bilateral trade agreement to keep funds within historic Black American communities, referencing the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and 1881. He urged the council to leave communities to manage their own projects.

Discussion Items

• Chair Amaro welcomed new Council Member Moné Holder, who declined to make opening remarks.
• Council Member Matt Carlucci announced two publicly noticed meetings on Friday, September 4, 2026: the first at 1:00 PM on reinserting the Mayor's affordable housing proposal into the budget, and the second at 2:30 PM on the Exchange Club Family Center's parent aid program. He expressed support for the affordable housing amendment, noting that progress is made "by the inch."
• Council Member Holder echoed support for affordable housing and programs for children and families.
• Council Member Jimmy Peluso suggested expanding the affordable housing meeting to also discuss moving PSG and CSG grants above the line in the budget. Council Member Carlucci preferred to keep the meeting focused on affordable housing to respect the budget process, but was open to broader discussion if time permitted.
• Carla Schell, Office of General Counsel, advised that the existing meeting notice limits discussion to affordable housing and recommended a revised notice (72 hours preferred, 24 hours minimum) if the scope is to be expanded.
• Chair Amaro asked committee members for suggestions for future presentations to inform the committee's work.

Key Outcomes

• Item 2026-0570 (Electric Bicycles ordinance): Deferred at the request of Council Member Boylan.
• Item 2026-0627 (Gate Parkway right-of-way closure): Public hearing opened and closed; no public speakers. An amendment correcting book/page and RE number references was approved. The bill as amended was approved 7-0.
• Item 2026-0629 (Traffic control jurisdiction for Montevilla at Bartram Lakes): Approved 7-0.
• Item 2026-0633 (Appropriation of $100,000 for traffic calming in District 5): Approved 7-0.
• Item 2026-0634 (JEA bond issuance): Deferred at the request of JEA.
• Item 2026-0635 (Honorary street designation for Preston H. Haskell III – renaming Museum Circle to "Haskell Way"): Public hearing opened and closed; no public speakers. An amendment correcting the council district to District 5 and other administrative corrections was approved. The bill as amended was approved 7-0. Waivers were granted for Code Sec. 745.105(i)(2) (honoree deceased for at least five years) and (i)(3) (honoree resided within five miles for ten years).
• Item 2026-0644 (Renaming Cedar Point Preserve to "Middlebrook Preserve"): Deferred due to a pending public hearing in the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee on September 14, 2026.
• Item 2026-0662 (Establishment of Deep Creek Community Development District): Read for the second time and rereferred.