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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, October 27, 2026

BodyJacksonville, Florida

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, October 27, 2026

StatusNEW · FILED

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Speaker 1

0:01

Good evening.

0:02

I call to order the October 27th meeting of the Jacksonville City Council.

0:07

Mr.

0:07

Florida Leader, I turn it over to you.

Speaker 2

0:09

Thank you, Mr.

0:09

President.

0:09

Our first order of business is the invocation and pledge of allegiance.

0:13

I would ask that you please recognize Councilman O'Marrow, Council Choppin' to introduce Bishop Arden Luster for today's invocation.

Speaker 1

0:20

Councilmember America, you're recognized.

Unassigned speaker

0:22

Thank

Speaker 3

0:22

you, Mr.

0:23

Chair.

0:23

Thank you, Mr.

0:24

Floor Leader.

0:28

Tonight our invocation is being delivered by Bishop Arden Luster Sr.

0:34

For the past 31 years.

0:35

He has served the Brian Groom Apostolic Church as its senior pastor

Unassigned speaker

0:40

Speaker 3

0:41

the Lincoln Villa Community Area.

0:43

Bishop Luster is affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, where he serves on the Board of Bishops.

0:51

He's the Diocean of the 45th Episcopal District, and his assignment is in the Southern Philippines, Visayas Province, Cebu, Philippines.

1:03

Bishop Lusser is the former chairman of the Florida State Council

Unassigned speaker

1:08

Speaker 3

1:08

the 29th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, affectionately called Bishop Fata.

1:18

Fafa.

1:19

He has been married to his dody, his beloved, Mildred Luster for 49 years, and they have four children, Ardent II, Avery, Andrea, and Aaron.

1:33

To complete his circle, Bishop Fafa has sixteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and his most recent addition to the family, one month old Avery Santee Lester II, and one month old Alloone Saloma Luster White.

1:52

Proverbs 17 and 6 says, Children's children are the crown of old

Unassigned speaker

1:58

men,

Speaker 3

1:58

and the glory of the beauty of children are their fathers.

2:03

Please receive Bishop Luster for tonight's invocation.

Speaker 4

2:08

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

2:10

Speaker 4

2:10

the Jacksonville City Council President, Councilman Nick Howland, his staff, to each council member and their staff, and especially to Councilman Chaplain Ken Amero.

2:25

I say thank you for this prestigious privilege to lead the council body in prayer.

Unassigned speaker

2:33

Speaker 4

2:33

my beloved matriarch, Mother Claudia Dell Luster Lindsay, who is in her 93rd year of life, enjoying gardening and her posterity.

2:46

Always the educator, I honor and thank

Unassigned speaker

2:50

you.

Speaker 4

2:51

Finally, to my beloved, 67 days, seven hours, 56 minutes and 47 seconds.

3:01

We'll be married for 50 years.

3:12

And much more, I believe, by divine providence to lead the Jacksonville City Council in prayer as you engage and decide issues that will make our city a better place for all to live and prosper.

3:31

As leaders of this city, may you embrace these words.

Unassigned speaker

3:36

Speaker 4

3:36

was the prophet Jeremiah who said, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, nor the rich man in his riches, but let him that glory glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth

Unassigned speaker

3:58

me.

Speaker 4

3:58

For I am the Lord, who exercise loving kindness, judgment, righteousness in the earth, for in these things.

4:11

With that being said, Lord, our Lord,

Unassigned speaker

4:17

how

Speaker 4

4:17

excellent is your name in all the earth.

4:21

Today, this moment, we stand, better yet we bow our heads, our minds and our egos before thee, with whom we all, both great and small, are accountable to.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

So we ask you, we acknowledge you in all of their discussions and deliberations, and that their decisions will provide a well-being and opportunity to all in this great city, Jacksonville, Florida.

Speaker 4

5:16

Simply we say our eyes

Unassigned speaker

5:20

are

Speaker 4

5:20

upon you.

5:22

Our hope is in you.

5:26

Lead us.

5:28

Guide us.

5:29

Guide these men and women as they make decisions.

5:35

We say thank

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural████████████████████████24%

Affordable Housing█████████████████17%

Public Comment██████████10%

Personnel Matters████████8%

Public Engagement███████7%

Ethics and Governance██████6%

Public Safety█████5%

Budget█████5%

Education Funding████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2026

The Jacksonville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chamber, City Hall, with all 19 members present. The council approved the October 13, 2026 minutes on a 19-0 voice vote, filed nine communications from the mayor and other entities, and proceeded through quasi-judicial items, consent agenda, public comment, public hearings, readings, and introductions. Council President Howland announced that the week of November 2 committee meetings would move from Tuesday to Wednesday because of the November 3 general election, and that JSO had served a subpoena to former JTA CEO Nat Ford compelling testimony before the Finance Committee. The meeting adjourned at 8:46 PM.

Presentation and Announcements

Council Member Pittman presented framed Resolution 2026-613-A honoring Duval County Public Schools for earning an A grade from the Florida Department of Education for the second consecutive year. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier and board members accepted; statistics cited included 98% of traditional district schools earning A/B/C grades, a 97.6% graduation rate in traditional high schools, and 94% overall graduation rate, up from 80.5% in 2013.
The Council President also announced that Council Member Rory Diamond was coordinating with Mr. Ford on a date to testify, and that the Attorney General investigation and FAO Select Committee inquiry would continue.

Quasi-Judicial Ordinances

Approved 19-0: 2026-0660 (rezoning at 11713 Alta Drive from RR-ARCE to RLD-100A for Jacksonville Homes, LLC); 2026-0695 (rezoning at 9520 Sandler Road from RR-Acre to RLD-70 for Jacksonville Homes, LLC); 2026-0696 (rezoning at 0 103rd Street from CO to CCG-2 for Ricky Rand); and 2026-0747 (sign setback waiver at 960 Girvin Road for the Diocese of St. Augustine, reducing the minimum setback from 20 feet to 12 feet). Ex parte communications were declared on several items.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda, less item 2026-0830, was approved 19-0. Council Member Diamond pulled 2026-0830, honoring retiring broadcast journalist Phil Amato; a floor amendment was adopted and the resolution passed 19-0 as amended.
Routine approvals included the donation of city-owned property at 1725 East 22nd Street to Destined for a Change, Inc. for permanent affordable housing; an appropriation of $34,496.25 for JFRD critical care equipment, including $25,872.19 in state grant funds and $8,624.06 city match; numerous board appointments and reappointments; and recognition resolutions for National Adoption Day/Month, the 160th anniversary of Edward Waters University, Carol J. Alexander, Reverend Elizabeth Elaine Yates, and Phil Amato. Clint Noble reappointment to the Environmental Protection Board (2026-0773) was withdrawn 19-0.
Unfinished business 2026-0769, declaring October 2026 as Scouting America Page Month, was approved 18-0 after a council amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

Many speakers opposed the Finance Committee effort to divert $2.8 million of the $4.9 million Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Tori Meadows apartment project, saying the funds were intended for down-payment assistance, utility connection help, and construction financing for homeownership. Carol Hawkins, Alan Maston, Terry Rosenberry, Reverend Madison Hilt, Carmen Dawson, Pastor John Turner, Reverend Amber Kearney, James Schwartz, Wells Todd, Etta Etlinger, Emily McMillan, and Denise Cook all urged the council to keep the trust fund intact; several noted that Vestcor, the developer behind Tori Meadows, had a high number of eviction filings.
Speakers including Jeff Bio and Suzanne Sapp supported affordable housing trust fund legislation and emergency utility assistance; Sapp identified herself with Sierra Club and the Duval Affordable Clean Energy Coalition and pushed for keeping JEA public and decisions made transparently.
Michelle Wilson and Nicole Sparks spoke in support of the urban agriculture ordinance (2026-0807) but asked for clarification separating educational programming from retail rules, more community market days, and clearer enforcement definitions.
Carnell Oliver, Vanessa Collins Hopkins, Katrina Spencer, and Denise Presley opposed or questioned the Gateway Mixed-Use PUD rezoning and called for traffic studies and deferral.
Blake Harper questioned the reappointments of library board members and raised concerns about graphic books accessible to children.
Other commenters discussed JTA financial management, code enforcement, redlining and reparations, the Emerald Trail, data centers, Amendment 3, and a campaign-shirt incident at the meeting; the General Counsel explained the electioneering and campaigning restrictions and said the person had been warned before the sergeant-at-arms was notified.

Discussion Items

JEA board reappointment (2026-0203): Council Members Diamond and Salem opposed reappointing Joseph P. DiSalvo, citing JEA rate increases and DiSalvo's conduct at the February board meeting. Supporters, including Carlucci, Peluso, Clark-Murray, and Howland, defended his independence and service. The resolution was approved 12-7, with J. Carlucci, Carrico, Diamond, White, Arias, Gay, and Salem voting no.
Administrative Services Department (2026-0722): Council Member Salem's floor amendment requiring a bachelor's degree unless waived by 10 council votes failed on a hand vote after debate; a rules amendment correcting technical provisions passed. The ordinance was approved 17-2, with Carrico and Salem dissenting.
Tori Meadows development loan (2026-0752): Finance Chair Lahnen said the finance substitute attached a funding source because the bill was introduced without one and warned of $38 million in unfunded commitments by FY 28-29. Opponents called the substitute an underhanded diversion from the recently approved affordable housing trust fund. The finance substitute failed; a rules amendment passed, and the ordinance authorizing a $2,800,000, 20-year development loan for approximately 180 affordable housing units was approved 15-3, with Lahnen, Gay, and Miller dissenting.

Public Hearings

2026-0558 (rezoning at Richardson Road) was continued to November 24, 2026.
2026-0743 (Gateway Mixed-Use PUD at Norwood Avenue and 44th Street) received four opposition speaker cards and its public hearing was closed without a vote; LUZ review was scheduled for November 4.
2026-0748 (Kings Creek II CDD boundary contraction of 93.24+ acres) was approved 18-0.
2026-0653 (Walnut Street FLUM amendment) was withdrawn 18-0; companion 2026-0654 (Duval Laundry PUD) was approved 18-0 as amended, with the applicant agreeing to a floor amendment prohibiting live music or amplified sound outside between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.
2026-0692 and 2026-0693 (Hendricks Avenue and Grandy Avenue land use and rezoning) were approved 18-0.
Numerous other public hearings were closed without speaker cards, with additional hearings set for November 10 or November 24.

Key Outcomes

Votes included: minutes 19-0; quasi-judicial ordinances 19-0; consent agenda 19-0; 2026-0830 19-0 as amended; 2026-0769 18-0; JEA reappointment 12-7; JHFA homeowner mortgage revenue bonds up to $100,000,000 18-1 (Diamond no); corrections defined contribution plan 19-0; Administrative Services 17-2; Zoo capital maintenance amendment 19-0; Tori Meadows loan 15-3; SHIP appropriation of $247,929 18-0; traffic calming and e-bike signs 18-0; Homelessness Commission strategic plan deadline extension 17-0-1 (Pittman abstaining); Kings Creek II CDD 18-0; Walnut Street withdrawal and Duval Laundry PUD approval 18-0.
Second-reading resolutions and ordinances were read and referred to committees. New resolutions and ordinances were introduced, including 2026-0855 Shore Manufacturing economic development agreement with a $65,000 grant, JHFA multifamily housing revenue bonds for Leon Landing ($15,000,000), Tori Meadows ($31,200,000), and Treetop Apartments ($35,500,000), and the urban agriculture ordinance 2026-0807.
Council approved addendum 2026-0886, introducing and assigning an ordinance authorizing a preliminary engineering services agreement with Florida East Coast Railway for a 24-hour quiet zone in the San Marco area.
Council waived Rules 3.103 and 3.302 to add co-introducers to 2026-0867 (utility assistance appropriation), and approved the floor amendment as amended.
The minutes for 2026-0672 contain an internal inconsistency, listing both a 19-0 withdrawal and approval on the consent agenda; the agenda had shown committee withdrawals before final action.
The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for November 10, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I call to order the October 27th meeting of the Jacksonville City Council. Mr. Florida Leader, I turn it over to you. Thank you, Mr. President. Our first order of business is the invocation and pledge of allegiance. I would ask that you please recognize Councilman O'Marrow, Council Choppin' to introduce Bishop Arden Luster for today's invocation. Councilmember America, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Floor Leader. Tonight our invocation is being delivered by Bishop Arden Luster Sr. For the past 31 years. He has served the Brian Groom Apostolic Church as its senior pastor in the Lincoln Villa Community Area. Bishop Luster is affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, where he serves on the Board of Bishops. He's the Diocean of the 45th Episcopal District, and his assignment is in the Southern Philippines, Visayas Province, Cebu, Philippines. Bishop Lusser is the former chairman of the Florida State Council of the 29th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, affectionately called Bishop Fata. Fafa. He has been married to his dody, his beloved, Mildred Luster for 49 years, and they have four children, Ardent II, Avery, Andrea, and Aaron. To complete his circle, Bishop Fafa has sixteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and his most recent addition to the family, one month old Avery Santee Lester II, and one month old Alloone Saloma Luster White. Proverbs 17 and 6 says, Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of the beauty of children are their fathers. Please receive Bishop Luster for tonight's invocation. Thank you. To the Jacksonville City Council President, Councilman Nick Howland, his staff, to each council member and their staff, and especially to Councilman Chaplain Ken Amero. I say thank you for this prestigious privilege to lead the council body in prayer. To my beloved matriarch, Mother Claudia Dell Luster Lindsay, who is in her 93rd year of life, enjoying gardening and her posterity. Always the educator, I honor and thank you. Finally, to my beloved, 67 days, seven hours, 56 minutes and 47 seconds. We'll be married for 50 years. And much more, I believe, by divine providence to lead the Jacksonville City Council in prayer as you engage and decide issues that will make our city a better place for all to live and prosper. As leaders of this city, may you embrace these words. It was the prophet Jeremiah who said, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, nor the rich man in his riches, but let him that glory glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me. For I am the Lord, who exercise loving kindness, judgment, righteousness in the earth, for in these things. With that being said, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth.

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TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
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Jacksonville City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2026

Presentation and Announcements

Council Member Pittman presented framed Resolution 2026-613-A honoring Duval County Public Schools for earning an A grade from the Florida Department of Education for the second consecutive year. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier and board members accepted; statistics cited included 98% of traditional district schools earning A/B/C grades, a 97.6% graduation rate in traditional high schools, and 94% overall graduation rate, up from 80.5% in 2013.

The Council President also announced that Council Member Rory Diamond was coordinating with Mr. Ford on a date to testify, and that the Attorney General investigation and FAO Select Committee inquiry would continue.

Quasi-Judicial Ordinances

Approved 19-0: 2026-0660 (rezoning at 11713 Alta Drive from RR-ARCE to RLD-100A for Jacksonville Homes, LLC); 2026-0695 (rezoning at 9520 Sandler Road from RR-Acre to RLD-70 for Jacksonville Homes, LLC); 2026-0696 (rezoning at 0 103rd Street from CO to CCG-2 for Ricky Rand); and 2026-0747 (sign setback waiver at 960 Girvin Road for the Diocese of St. Augustine, reducing the minimum setback from 20 feet to 12 feet). Ex parte communications were declared on several items.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda, less item 2026-0830, was approved 19-0. Council Member Diamond pulled 2026-0830, honoring retiring broadcast journalist Phil Amato; a floor amendment was adopted and the resolution passed 19-0 as amended.

Routine approvals included the donation of city-owned property at 1725 East 22nd Street to Destined for a Change, Inc. for permanent affordable housing; an appropriation of $34,496.25 for JFRD critical care equipment, including $25,872.19 in state grant funds and $8,624.06 city match; numerous board appointments and reappointments; and recognition resolutions for National Adoption Day/Month, the 160th anniversary of Edward Waters University, Carol J. Alexander, Reverend Elizabeth Elaine Yates, and Phil Amato. Clint Noble reappointment to the Environmental Protection Board (2026-0773) was withdrawn 19-0.

Unfinished business 2026-0769, declaring October 2026 as Scouting America Page Month, was approved 18-0 after a council amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

Many speakers opposed the Finance Committee effort to divert $2.8 million of the $4.9 million Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Tori Meadows apartment project, saying the funds were intended for down-payment assistance, utility connection help, and construction financing for homeownership. Carol Hawkins, Alan Maston, Terry Rosenberry, Reverend Madison Hilt, Carmen Dawson, Pastor John Turner, Reverend Amber Kearney, James Schwartz, Wells Todd, Etta Etlinger, Emily McMillan, and Denise Cook all urged the council to keep the trust fund intact; several noted that Vestcor, the developer behind Tori Meadows, had a high number of eviction filings.

Speakers including Jeff Bio and Suzanne Sapp supported affordable housing trust fund legislation and emergency utility assistance; Sapp identified herself with Sierra Club and the Duval Affordable Clean Energy Coalition and pushed for keeping JEA public and decisions made transparently.

Michelle Wilson and Nicole Sparks spoke in support of the urban agriculture ordinance (2026-0807) but asked for clarification separating educational programming from retail rules, more community market days, and clearer enforcement definitions.

Carnell Oliver, Vanessa Collins Hopkins, Katrina Spencer, and Denise Presley opposed or questioned the Gateway Mixed-Use PUD rezoning and called for traffic studies and deferral.

Blake Harper questioned the reappointments of library board members and raised concerns about graphic books accessible to children.

Other commenters discussed JTA financial management, code enforcement, redlining and reparations, the Emerald Trail, data centers, Amendment 3, and a campaign-shirt incident at the meeting; the General Counsel explained the electioneering and campaigning restrictions and said the person had been warned before the sergeant-at-arms was notified.

Discussion Items

JEA board reappointment (2026-0203): Council Members Diamond and Salem opposed reappointing Joseph P. DiSalvo, citing JEA rate increases and DiSalvo's conduct at the February board meeting. Supporters, including Carlucci, Peluso, Clark-Murray, and Howland, defended his independence and service. The resolution was approved 12-7, with J. Carlucci, Carrico, Diamond, White, Arias, Gay, and Salem voting no.

Administrative Services Department (2026-0722): Council Member Salem's floor amendment requiring a bachelor's degree unless waived by 10 council votes failed on a hand vote after debate; a rules amendment correcting technical provisions passed. The ordinance was approved 17-2, with Carrico and Salem dissenting.

Tori Meadows development loan (2026-0752): Finance Chair Lahnen said the finance substitute attached a funding source because the bill was introduced without one and warned of $38 million in unfunded commitments by FY 28-29. Opponents called the substitute an underhanded diversion from the recently approved affordable housing trust fund. The finance substitute failed; a rules amendment passed, and the ordinance authorizing a $2,800,000, 20-year development loan for approximately 180 affordable housing units was approved 15-3, with Lahnen, Gay, and Miller dissenting.

Public Hearings

2026-0558 (rezoning at Richardson Road) was continued to November 24, 2026.

2026-0743 (Gateway Mixed-Use PUD at Norwood Avenue and 44th Street) received four opposition speaker cards and its public hearing was closed without a vote; LUZ review was scheduled for November 4.

2026-0748 (Kings Creek II CDD boundary contraction of 93.24+ acres) was approved 18-0.

2026-0653 (Walnut Street FLUM amendment) was withdrawn 18-0; companion 2026-0654 (Duval Laundry PUD) was approved 18-0 as amended, with the applicant agreeing to a floor amendment prohibiting live music or amplified sound outside between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.

2026-0692 and 2026-0693 (Hendricks Avenue and Grandy Avenue land use and rezoning) were approved 18-0.

Numerous other public hearings were closed without speaker cards, with additional hearings set for November 10 or November 24.

Key Outcomes

Votes included: minutes 19-0; quasi-judicial ordinances 19-0; consent agenda 19-0; 2026-0830 19-0 as amended; 2026-0769 18-0; JEA reappointment 12-7; JHFA homeowner mortgage revenue bonds up to $100,000,000 18-1 (Diamond no); corrections defined contribution plan 19-0; Administrative Services 17-2; Zoo capital maintenance amendment 19-0; Tori Meadows loan 15-3; SHIP appropriation of $247,929 18-0; traffic calming and e-bike signs 18-0; Homelessness Commission strategic plan deadline extension 17-0-1 (Pittman abstaining); Kings Creek II CDD 18-0; Walnut Street withdrawal and Duval Laundry PUD approval 18-0.

Second-reading resolutions and ordinances were read and referred to committees. New resolutions and ordinances were introduced, including 2026-0855 Shore Manufacturing economic development agreement with a $65,000 grant, JHFA multifamily housing revenue bonds for Leon Landing ($15,000,000), Tori Meadows ($31,200,000), and Treetop Apartments ($35,500,000), and the urban agriculture ordinance 2026-0807.

Council approved addendum 2026-0886, introducing and assigning an ordinance authorizing a preliminary engineering services agreement with Florida East Coast Railway for a 24-hour quiet zone in the San Marco area.

Council waived Rules 3.103 and 3.302 to add co-introducers to 2026-0867 (utility assistance appropriation), and approved the floor amendment as amended.

The minutes for 2026-0672 contain an internal inconsistency, listing both a 19-0 withdrawal and approval on the consent agenda; the agenda had shown committee withdrawals before final action.

The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for November 10, 2026.

Meeting Transcript