Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee, chaired by Councilman Mike Gay (District 2), held a notice meeting on September 28, 2026, at 6:00 PM (18:00) to discuss the appointment of Julio Ayala to the Construction Trade Qualifying Board (CTQB) and to clarify issues raised at a prior rules committee meeting. The meeting focused on board composition, the appointment process, a code enforcement citation against the applicant, and concerns about the board's leadership.
Board Composition and Membership: The CTQB has 16 members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by council, serving two three-year terms with no set end date (serve until successor appointed). Currently, 15 of 16 seats are filled; one vacancy exists. Councilman Gaffney inquired about vacancies and the appointment process. Garrett Dennis (Mayor's Administration) explained that the mayor appoints all members, and the board itself recommended Julio Ayala through executive director Steven Stilner. However, board chair Clifford Snell later clarified that the board does not formally recommend applicants—they only steer candidates to apply.
Code Enforcement and Customer Complaint: Ray Hawkins (Building Code Enforcement) reported that Mr. Ayala received a $255 citation for failing to pull a permit at a job on Hermitage (related to a complaint from a resident whose mother was in hospice). The fine was paid, but the work (compressor repair) has not been fully completed, and the customer has not been made whole. Councilman Gay noted that at the prior rules meeting, he stated the nomination would not move forward until the customer was satisfied.
Qualifications and Seat Assignment: The administration initially nominated Ayala for the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) seat, but Stilner stated the board had recommended him for the plumbing seat, which was vacant. However, Ayala has held a plumbing license only since April 2026 (less than three years) and has pulled only two plumbing permits in Duval County. He has held an HVAC license for over three years. Councilman Gay and Councilman Bowling emphasized the ordinance requirement that trade members must have been engaged in their trade for at least three consecutive years before appointment. Thus, Ayala cannot serve in the plumbing seat. An amendment to change the seat to HVAC was suggested but no action was taken pending resolution of the customer complaint.
Board Chair Tenure and Concerns: Clifford Snell (chair since 2012) stated he has served for 14 years and is not opposing replacement, but he noted internal issues at the CTQB office that he believes need investigation. He raised that the current applicant's public complaint (only the third in 14 years) should be a red flag for a board regulating contractors. Garrett Dennis acknowledged that the administration intends to update membership on the board over the coming months, but supports its nominee.
Permit Activity and Credibility: Ray Hawkins noted that Ayala has pulled only 14 permits since 2023 for his mechanical business and 2 plumbing permits since April 2026, contradicting his claim of having hundreds of clients. Ayala explained he works mostly commercial statewide and does many repairs not requiring permits.
Uh we'll go ahead and get started. Uh I'm Mike Gay, uh City Council District 2, uh the rules, rules chair. We got a little reverb going on. Uh we're here this morning to uh discuss uh the notice meeting for 2026 0517. Um and with that I'll go ahead and uh uh start with introductions on my right and then we'll get moving forward. Go ahead. Trista Kerriher, Council Auditor's Office, Carla Shell, Office of General Counsel. Councilman Reginald Gaffney Junior District A. All right, thank y'all for being here and uh helping us get through the some questions that we have that's arose in uh in the rules committee um last meeting. Uh in your information, you should have the uh uh the actual appointment information, the code as well. Um in front of you got some this was some questions that uh I had sent to research to uh find out about the actual uh construction trade board. Um my first question, how many members are on the construction trade qualifying board? Uh there's uh 16 members that are appointed by the mayor, confirmed by council, and they may serve two three-year terms until successors are appointed. And so I asked for clarification on what what that meant, and is it and um may uh confirm this that it's basically two three-year terms, and it can keep going. Uh so there's no uh official end time. Is that correct? Yes, that's correct. They can serve until their appoint their successors appointed and confirmed, so that can go on indefinitely, or they can resign. Okay. So uh there's uh one architect registered in the state, one engineer registered in the state, three contractors certified by the state, or holding a valid certificates of competency uh with the board or and registered with the state, one in each of the following categories: general or building, general building or residential contractor, swimming pool contractor, and roofing contractor, four contra D, four contractors certified or registered with the state, holding a local specialty contractor certificate, certificate of competency, and holding a valid journament or master certificate of competency in it uh one in each of the following categories electrical contractor, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, uh contractor, plumbing contractor, and irrigation contractor, three journalines, and then is down to two individuals associated with apartment industry, two uh citizens that are not associated with department industry, and then my next question was uh how long uh have each been on the board, especially the chair. Uh then this there was a report uh it says report below. I don't see that. Um the next page. Okay. So on the okay, on the next page, uh thank you that uh it it lists out the different different ones and when they were original appointed date and uh term end date. So that's when they're two three-year terms would have ended, and then it goes into a continuation. So that kind of gives an idea of what's what's been uh the the makeup on that council McGaffney. Go ahead. Thank you, Chad for recognizing me. Um I'm not sure who this question should be directed to, but I'm trying to figure out. So it's 16 members. I guess my question is this committee, is it filled? Um, how many vacances we have? Um, I think from the impression and understanding I have right now, we are in the process of trying to put a new member on the board. And I and and I guess my other question, this is loaded question. Does the mayor, I guess her administration appoints all the members are as the city council, how does that process work? So let me go back to my first question. So I said team members, how many vacancies we currently have for this um board? Mr. Dennis, if you want to just come on up here and that way having to go to the back and forth to the microphone, the podium. So if you want to answer those questions, uh through the chair to uh Councilman Gaffney, Garrett Dennis administration. Um there are 16 members. Uh the mayor's office appoints all members uh of the board and from our our records, which is kept uh you know in in your office um uh under uh calling Hampsy, uh we're showing one vacancy. Um and did you ask a question about the chair or no no okay that's what okay?