Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee met at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026, in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 117 W. Duval Street, Jacksonville, FL. Chair Mike Gay presided. The committee received an annual Kids Hope Alliance partnership report, heard public comment, and acted on more than a dozen appointments and legislative items. A contested $2.3 million emergency utility-assistance appropriation failed on a 3-4 vote, and several items were deferred or withdrawn.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Monday, November 2nd, 9 a.m. Rules Committee meeting. I call the meeting to order and we'll start with introductions to my left with Mr. Garrett Dennis. Good morning, Garrett Dennis Administration. Carla Shell, Office of General Counsel. Tristan Carihert, Council Auditor's Office. Ron Salem, group two at large. Here tomorrow, City Council District 1. Mike Gay, District 2. Will In and District 3. Good morning, Tyrone Clark Murray, District 9. Good morning, Michael Boylan, District 6. Good morning, Nick Allen at large group three. Randy White, District 12, just visiting. All right. Welcome. Council President Howland and formal Council President White to the rules committee meeting. So I'm gonna try to move through it as quickly as we can. We'll start with public comment and then we'll go to a presentation by the Kids Hope Alliance. So with that, um our first public comment will be from Carnell Oliver, and then William Hoff, Blake Harper, and then Terry Caldwell. So Mr. Oliver, come on down. You'll be given two minutes and speak specifically to a bill on our agenda, sir. Uh yes, my name is Cardinal Oliver. Address is on file. I want to speak to 2026 0806. Uh I'm asking for a deferral. Because dealing with dealing with a piece of legislation like this, it's the disposal of uh historic property so that it can be re re uh rehabilitated to create some kind of affordable housing. But instead of isolating this situation, why don't we turn this into a big package approach where we can bring planning in, um housing um division, and we try to attack this through a holistic perspective and try to stabilize the housing market. The number one population that I'm really focused on is heritage black Americans. And the thing about it is that before a piece of property goes in the hands of a nonprofit, or you put a piece of property up for sale, uh I would rather the people who have a who have been have an entitlement. And when I say an entitlement, foundational black Americans have an entitlement to this country. Everybody else falls underneath the privilege class. And when I speak about this, I'm asking for a deferral until we bring everybody to the table. I'm asking for either the council president or the chairman of this board to work with me on trying to attack this housing situation because I'm gonna be honest. These evictions are gone through the roof. I spend a lot of great deal of time at the law library, and I'm seeing evictions either for people tearing up people's properties, or number two, not paying their rent. I understand these issues. So we have to find a way, how do we stabilize this situation, and it's gotta be done from a holistic perspective. And I'm asking for a deferral. All right, thank you, sir. Our next speaker will be Mr. William Hoff.