Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Meeting - September 1, 2026
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Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Meeting – September 1, 2026
The Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee of the Jacksonville City Council convened at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in the Council Chamber. Chair Ken Amaro presided over the meeting, with seven members present. The committee considered eight agenda items, including several ordinances related to public works, traffic safety, street renaming, and community development districts. Votes were recorded on multiple items, and public testimony was received on one agenda item.
Consent Calendar
- 2026-0627 – Ordinance closing and abandoning an unopened, unimproved portion of Gate Parkway right-of-way in Council District 11, subject to a reservation of a non-exclusive easement for JEA. The committee approved an amendment correcting book page references and the real estate number, then approved the bill as amended by a vote of 7-0.
- 2026-0629 – Ordinance approving a traffic control jurisdiction agreement between the City and Montevilla at Bartram Lakes Association, Inc., authorizing the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to enforce a 30 mph speed limit on private roads within the neighborhood. Approved 7-0.
- 2026-0633 – Ordinance appropriating $100,000 from the General Fund to the General Capital Projects – Council District 5 account for traffic calming and/or traffic safety improvements. Approved 7-0.
- 2026-0635 – Ordinance establishing an honorary street designation for Preston H. Haskell, III on Museum Circle in Council District 4 (later corrected to District 5), renaming the roadway to “Haskell Way,” and waiving code requirements that the honoree be deceased for five years and reside within five miles for ten years. The committee approved an amendment correcting the council district and other scrivener’s errors, then approved the bill as amended by a vote of 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. Oliver (speaker name as recorded; address on file) – Speaking during the consideration of Item 8 (2026-0662), Mr. Oliver instead addressed Item 4 (2026-0633), criticizing the distribution of capital improvement project funds. He argued that Black American communities pay into the system but do not benefit proportionally, and he proposed a bilateral trade agreement citing the 1866 Civil Rights Act as a framework for keeping funds within local communities. He urged the committee to act through the state legislature and local council.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (2026-0570) – Ordinance regarding electric bicycles. Deferred at the request of Council Member Boylan.
- Item 5 (2026-0634) – Ordinance authorizing JEA to issue up to $3.9 billion in electric system revenue bonds, up to $3.7 billion in water and sewer system revenue bonds, and up to $150 million in district energy system revenue bonds. Deferred at the request of JEA.
- Item 7 (2026-0644) – Ordinance renaming Cedar Point Preserve to “Middlebrook Preserve” in Council District 2. Deferred due to a pending public hearing in the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health & Safety Committee on September 14, 2026.
- Item 8 (2026-0662) – Ordinance establishing the Deep Creek Community Development District (CDD) and amending Chapter 92 of the City Code. Placed on second reading; no vote taken at this meeting. Public hearings scheduled for September 8 and October 13, 2026.
- Budget Amendment Discussion – Council Member Matt Carlucci announced a noticed meeting on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 1:00 PM to discuss a proposed budget amendment restoring $100,000 in affordable housing funds that were removed by the Finance Committee. He invited committee members to attend. Council Member Mone’ Holder expressed support for restoring affordable housing funding. Council Member Jimmy Peluso voiced support and suggested also moving Public Service Grants (PSG) and Community Service Grants (CSG) fully “above the line” in the budget. Carlucci preferred to keep Friday’s meeting focused on affordable housing but did not oppose discussing other matters if time allowed. Committee Counsel Carla Schell clarified that the meeting notice specifically covered the affordable housing budget amendment, and any expansion would require a revised notice sent at least 24 hours (recommended 72 hours) in advance.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (7-0): 2026-0627 (Gate Parkway closure), 2026-0629 (traffic jurisdiction), 2026-0633 (traffic safety funding), and 2026-0635 (Haskell Way renaming).
- Deferred: 2026-0570 (electric bicycles), 2026-0634 (JEA bonds), and 2026-0644 (park renaming).
- No Action: 2026-0662 (Deep Creek CDD) remained on second reading.
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the Council Chamber.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. I'm calling together the uh transportation energy and utilities committee meeting for Tuesday, September the first. It is now nine o'clock. We'll begin with introductions from my left. Stephen Libby, Council of Research. Carla Shell, Office of General Counsel. Edward Lindsky, Council Auditor's Office. Monet Holder at large group one. Matt Carlucci at large group four. Jacoby Pittman, District 10. Kenamoros, City Council District 1. Good morning, Jimmy Peloso, District 7. Good morning. Raw Aries, District 11. Good morning. Reginald Gaffin and Junior, District 8. Thank you. And I'd like to welcome our newest member, uh, Councilwoman Monet Holder. Uh if you have the floor if you want to make some comments. I don't. Listen, I trust me. I appreciate that because in this environment, some folks like to talk. So anyway, welcome. Uh let's go over to the agenda. Um, our first item is 2026 0570. Um, number two is 2026 0627. Um three is 0629, item number four, 2026, 063. Item number 5, 020, 2026, 0634. Item number six, 2026, 0635. And we'll begin with item number one. Uh that's been deferred at the request of council member uh Boylan. Item number two, 2026 0627. I'll open the public hearing. Uh do we have any cards? Ums Renee Hunter. Do you um want to explain what this is about? I just want to see you walk down here. Good morning. Um Renee Hunter, Public Works, Real Estate Division. So before you for Bill 627 is uh the closure of an unimproved unopened right-of-way um on gate parkway. Um the applicant is Sawmill Timber, and they're gonna be redeveloping the right of way for Stillwood Pines Boulevard phase two. Um that's pretty much it. They've paid the 2091 closure application fee. There's been no objections from anybody in the city to this closure request. Um, and we're gonna be reserving an easement over the area for JEA. And I'm here for any questions. Any questions from committee? None. Thank you, Ms. Hunter.
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