OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Jacksonville, Florida/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Jacksonville NCSPHS Committee Meeting - November 2, 2026

City Council — Monday, November 2, 2026
BodyJacksonville, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, November 2, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Original source
Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

All right.

0:02

Welcome.

0:03

Welcome everyone to the November 2nd Neighborhoods Community Services Public Health and Safety Committee meeting.

0:12

We will start off with introductions with Mr.

0:14

Get Mr.

0:15

Dennis, please.

0:16

Good afternoon, Garrett Dennis Administration.

0:19

Brandon Russell,

Speaker 2

0:20

Council of Research.

Unassigned speaker

0:27

Good

Speaker 3

0:27

afternoon, Monet Holder at large group one.

Unassigned speaker

0:30

Good

Speaker 4

0:30

afternoon, Matt Carlucci at large group four.

Speaker 5

0:34

Good afternoon, Tyrone Clark Murray, District

Unassigned speaker

0:36

9.

Unassigned speaker

0:37

Good

Speaker 1

0:37

afternoon, Chris Miller at large group five.

Speaker 6

0:40

Greetings everyone, Kevin McCarrico.

0:43

Council District

Unassigned speaker

0:44

4.

Speaker 7

0:45

I never say good afternoon, but I will today.

0:48

Good afternoon, Rolling Sailor 2 at large.

Speaker 8

0:51

Good afternoon to be police at District

Unassigned speaker

0:54

7.

Unassigned speaker

0:54

Joe

Speaker 8

0:55

Carlucci, District

Unassigned speaker

0:56

5.

Speaker 1

0:57

Randy White, District 12.

1:00

All right.

1:02

Thank you all.

1:03

Um the colleagues, you should have an order of agenda.

1:09

We have three items we're going to take up first, and then as soon as we do that, we will transition to the regular order published in their agenda revised marked version.

1:23

But before we do that,

Unassigned speaker

1:25

I

Speaker 1

1:25

think we'll get to the public comments.

1:27

We have two cards, I believe.

1:30

Each person will have three minutes each.

1:38

Stay on a bill that we're taking up today.

1:42

So first up would be Miss Bernie.

1:45

If you'll come up and give your name and address for the record.

Speaker 9

2:03

Thanks, Mr.

Speaker 1

2:04

Oliver.

2:04

No, we we heard you.

Speaker 9

2:06

Okay.

2:07

However, I understand and appreciate fully the need for affordable housing.

2:12

It is a dire necessity that must be addressed.

2:15

However, what baffles me is why the city of Jacksonville think it's a great idea to eventually tear down a neighborhood park.

2:23

Researchers acknowledge that the Gen Z generation might be the first generation to not outlive their parents because of their poor eating habits and mostly because of their lack of physical activity, which could lead to childhood obesity type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases that can shorten their lifespan.

2:40

The preventable diseases that can result from childhood obesity can be debilitating and deadly.

2:45

The two best ways to prevent childhood obesity are physical exercise and healthy food intake.

2:50

This park is located in Health Zone 1, where approximately 37% of adults are obese, and over 13% have been diagnosed with diabetes.

3:00

Additionally, the 2026 American Fitness Index ranks the 100 largest cities in the U.S.

3:06

on 35 evidence-based indicators that include obesity, chronic disease rates, physical activities, park and trail access, and local investments in recreation.

3:17

Jacksonville has long been at the bottom of the list, and sadly, it was specifically mentioned in the 2026 report as one of the cities to move down 16 spots to its fitness rank of 84.

3:31

So out of 100 largest cities, we are 84.

3:34

This puts us in the bottom quartile.

3:36

So my question is why would we consider closing a park when we can help fill in the gaps and empower residents to adopt healthier lifestyles?

3:44

Here's what I know because I live seven minutes from that part.

3:48

Young men play basketball through the night.

3:50

There's a swimming pool where hundreds of children learn to swim.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Downtown Revitalization███████████████████19%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Procedural███████████████15%
Public Works██████████10%
Election Process████████8%
Public Finance███████7%
Utility Assistance███████7%
Public Health█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Jacksonville NCSPHS Committee Meeting - November 2, 2026

The Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee (NCSPHS) met on November 2, 2026, chaired by Chris Miller. The committee considered numerous ordinances and resolutions, including the approval of multiple funding items, a study of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) expansion, and a controversial emergency appropriation for utility assistance. Public testimony was heard on a proposed affordable housing development on parkland.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Miss Bernie (District 9 resident) spoke against Item 14 (2026-0808) which proposes developing affordable housing on parkland (Charles 'Boobie' Clark Park). She cited health concerns, obesity, diabetes rates, and Jacksonville's low ranking in fitness, arguing the park should not be removed.
  • Carnell Oliver (address on file) also opposed the park redevelopment but supported housing for lineage-specific Black Americans. He called for conditions to ensure descendants of enslaved people benefit and requested a community meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 10 (2026-0802): Appropriation for post-election audit system. Amendment to correct fiscal year and attach revised grant agreement. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 7 (2026-0756): Amendment to prohibit purchase/lease of motor vehicles with grant funds, with clarification. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 8 (2026-0779): Parking requirements for industrial uses; set maximum of 3 spaces per 1,000 sq ft. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 9 (2026-0800): Inmate Welfare Trust Fund budget for FY 26-27. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 11 (2026-0805): $125,000 grant to Murray Hill Preservation Association. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 12 (2026-0806): Historic preservation ordinance including endangered homes list, preservation priority properties, and enforcement. Amended to clarify exemptions and correct errors. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 17 (2026-0811): Gator Bowl Stadium Use Agreement. Amended to remove emergency, clarify trust fund uses. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 18 (2026-0813): $162,640 from Homelessness Initiatives Fund for Youth Crisis Center. Amended to reflect PSG funding. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 20 (2026-0816): Resolution supporting J-bills to require live-streaming for JAA and JAXPORT. Amended to exempt state/federal closed meetings. Approved 7-0.
  • Item 21 (2026-0817): Resolution supporting open container district (Pearl Square). Agenda shows 6-1 vote (Gay dissenting), transcript shows 7-0 approval. Discrepancy noted.
  • Item 22 (2026-0832): Eastside Community Grants Program amendment for Jaguars Foundation member eligibility. Approved 7-0.

Discussion Items

  • Item 19 (2026-0814): Initial assessment ordinance for Downtown BID expansion. Required first step under state law. Paul Hardin (Jacksonville Jaguars) and William Michaelis (Shad Collective) opposed inclusion of Sports/Entertainment District and shipyards areas, asserting they already provide similar services. Joe Carlucci (sponsor) and OGC stated the ordinance only authorizes a process; no assessment takes effect until final ordinance in August 2027. Council President Howland opposed deferring to avoid surprising businesses, voted no. Committee approved 5-2-1 (Carrico abstained).
  • Item 33 (2026-0867): Emergency appropriation of $2.3 million from operating reserves for utility assistance. Debate centered on whether an emergency existed, whether reserves were appropriate source, and JEA's collection data. Supporters cited rising costs and immediate need; opponents noted steady JEA delinquency rates and the recent budget approval. The committee first voted 5-2 to approve, but after a motion to reconsider, passed again 5-2. The agenda lists initial emergency passage as failing 3-4, but the committee voted to approve following reconsideration.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 33.
  • Deferred: Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16 (at request of respective councilmembers).
  • Second Reading (no vote taken): Items 23-32, 34-38.
  • Notable Discrepancies: Item 21 vote tally differs between agenda and transcript; Item 33 outcome differs (agenda shows failed emergency, but committee approved after reconsideration).

Meeting Transcript

All right. Welcome. Welcome everyone to the November 2nd Neighborhoods Community Services Public Health and Safety Committee meeting. We will start off with introductions with Mr. Get Mr. Dennis, please. Good afternoon, Garrett Dennis Administration. Brandon Russell, Council of Research. Good afternoon, Monet Holder at large group one. Good afternoon, Matt Carlucci at large group four. Good afternoon, Tyrone Clark Murray, District 9. Good afternoon, Chris Miller at large group five. Greetings everyone, Kevin McCarrico. Council District 4. I never say good afternoon, but I will today. Good afternoon, Rolling Sailor 2 at large. Good afternoon to be police at District 7. Joe Carlucci, District 5. Randy White, District 12. All right. Thank you all. Um the colleagues, you should have an order of agenda. We have three items we're going to take up first, and then as soon as we do that, we will transition to the regular order published in their agenda revised marked version. But before we do that, I think we'll get to the public comments. We have two cards, I believe. Each person will have three minutes each. Stay on a bill that we're taking up today. So first up would be Miss Bernie. If you'll come up and give your name and address for the record. Thanks, Mr. Oliver. No, we we heard you. Okay. However, I understand and appreciate fully the need for affordable housing. It is a dire necessity that must be addressed. However, what baffles me is why the city of Jacksonville think it's a great idea to eventually tear down a neighborhood park. Researchers acknowledge that the Gen Z generation might be the first generation to not outlive their parents because of their poor eating habits and mostly because of their lack of physical activity, which could lead to childhood obesity type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases that can shorten their lifespan. The preventable diseases that can result from childhood obesity can be debilitating and deadly. The two best ways to prevent childhood obesity are physical exercise and healthy food intake.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com