2026-09-08 - City Council
Summary
From the official minutes (formal actions and roll calls only; the minutes carry no discussion). No video or transcript recorded for this meeting.
- Convened 5:00 p.m., adjourned 8:27 p.m. Eighteen members were present; White was excused. Council President Howland presided.
- The minutes of August 25 were approved by voice vote 18-0. Presentations: Arias presented a resolution honoring the 60th anniversary of Florida State College at Jacksonville; Howland presented a resolution recognizing the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office and poll workers.
- Quasi-judicial items 2026-0555, 0560 through 0565, 0567 and 0623 (a rezoning, alcohol-service zoning exceptions, a variance, two sign waivers and a road frontage waiver) were approved 17-0.
- Ordinance 2026-0590, repealing city firearms rules to comply with state preemption, passed on public hearing as amended 14-3 (Pittman, Johnson and Peluso opposed). Ordinance 2026-0376 (home occupations) passed as a substitute 16-0.
- The additional public hearings on the 2026 millage ordinances 2026-0501 through 0503 and the budget ordinance 2026-0504 were recorded with tallies of 15-2 or 16-1 (Carrico, and on some Diamond, opposed) for the millage bills and 16-1 (Diamond opposed) for the budget.
- Emergency bills: 2026-0671 (extend the term of the Florida Black Excellence Festival grant to December 31, 2026) 16-1 (Diamond opposed); 2026-0674 (add an omitted condition to a 2025 PUD) 17-0; 2026-0723 (polling place change for Precinct 508 for the November 3, 2026 general election) 17-0.
- Hearings on 2026-0126, 0127, 0523 and 0524 were continued to September 22; the other land use bills were read second time and re-referred. More than fifty new bills and resolutions were introduced and assigned.
2026-27 City Budget
- Public hearing on 2026-0504 (the consolidated government budget) recorded 16-1, Diamond opposed. See 2026-09-22 - City Council for the final vote (18-1).
2026-27 Millage Rates
- 2026-0501, 0502 and 0503 (property tax levies) had additional public hearings with recorded tallies of 15-2 (Carrico and Diamond opposed) for 0501 and 0503, and 16-1 (Carrico opposed) alongside a second recorded tally of 15-2 for 0502. Final votes were 16-3 on 2026-09-22 - City Council.
Pitts Road Auto Sales Rezoning
- 2026-0126 and 0127: public hearing only, continued to September 22, 2026.
Yellow Water Road Travel Trailer Park Rezoning
- 2026-0523 and 0524: public hearing only, continued to September 22, 2026.
Pending Council Rezoning Hearings
- Approved 17-0: 2026-0553 and 0554 (1414 Causey Lane, 2.53 acres, Low Density Residential to Neighborhood Commercial, District 2); 2026-0555 (0 Cahoon Road, 0.25 acre, CCG-1 to CCG-2, District 12; ex parte White). Public hearing only: 2026-0618 through 0622 (Timber Cove Court, Cardinal Boulevard and Cassat Avenue, Ashley Street West, Lane Avenue South, Moncrief Road West).
- Zoning exceptions and variances approved 17-0: 2026-0560 (1043 and 1045 Park Street, alcohol service, outdoor service and a nightclub, as amended, District 7), 0561 and 0562 (Chaffee Square, Normandy Boulevard: off-premises beer and wine, and a landscaping and driveway-width variance), 0563 (5340 Normandy Boulevard, alcohol service, District 9), 0623 (8313 Baycenter Road); sign waivers 0564 and 0565; frontage waiver 0567.
Firearms Ordinance Preemption Repeal
- 2026-0590 (introduced by Howland; co-sponsors Diamond, Carrico, Miller, Gay and a Carlucci) repeals city code provisions on the sale of firearms with city funding, restrictions on leases of city property, weapons and firearms in the Sheriff's custody and other provisions, to comply with Florida's preemption of firearms regulation, and amends airport, explosives, Springfield overlay and emergency-powers sections. Public hearing, amended and approved 14-3: Pittman, Johnson and Peluso opposed.
Home Occupation Zoning Rules
- 2026-0376 (introduced by Peluso and Miller, co-sponsor Arias) modifies home occupation requirements across residential, commercial and agricultural categories and the Springfield overlay to match state statute. Public hearing, substitute approved 16-0.
Springfield Lofts Redevelopment Agreement
- 2026-0677 (amended and restated redevelopment agreement with Springfield Lofts, LLC, a 3,000,000 dollar completion grant and a 3,000,000 dollar development loan for a 2.12-acre site at 1335 N Pearl Street and 205 W 3rd Street, introduced by M. Carlucci) read second time and re-referred.
Community Development District Boundary Changes
- 2026-0662 (establishing the Deep Creek Community Development District): public hearing, additional hearing set for October 13, and read second time and re-referred.
Board Appointment Confirmations
- Consent agenda: 2026-0630 (Corey Ford to the Construction Trades Qualifying Board as a citizen member not associated with the construction industry, first full term to September 30, 2028, with a waiver of the association rule; co-sponsor Gay) approved. 2026-0545 (Toni Smailagic) was withdrawn on the consent agenda.
Other business
- Consent agenda approved: 2026-0625, 0626, 0629 (JSO traffic control jurisdiction on private roads in Montevilla at Bartram Lakes, 30 mph, introduced by Arias), 0630, 0633, 0637, 0638 (499,576 dollars of opioid settlement funds to the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville recovery program), 0683, 0685 and 0686; 2025-0775 (ethics code: prohibit certain expenditures to the mayor and council members, introduced by a Carlucci) was withdrawn on consent.
- Approved 17-0 after public hearing: 2026-0627 (close an unopened right of way on Gate Parkway, District 11), 0628 (500,000 dollar state health grant for a public health and safety campaign on the Dinsmore area sidewalks, Gaffney), 0635 (honorary street designation for Preston H. Haskell III and renaming Museum Circle as Haskell Way, District 4; amended twice), 0636 (48,203.11 dollars of Community Development Block Grant funds to housing development) and 0645 (contract with Downtown Vision, Inc. for operating James Weldon Johnson Park, introduced by J. Carlucci).
- Read second time and re-referred after public hearing: 2026-0646 (Eastside Community Grants, 7,700,083.80 dollars), 0661, 0663 through 0670, 0672, 0673, 0675, 0676, 0678, 0679 and 0687.
- Introduced and assigned: resolutions 2026-0725 through 0738, and ordinances 2026-0688 through 0724 and 0740 (the Lofts at Southbank extension). Resolution 2026-0739 (retirement honor) was adopted 17-0 and 2026-0684 (honoring a Jacksonville native pastor) was amended and approved 17-0.
Official Minutes
Regular meeting of September 8, 2026. Council President Howland, Vice President J. Carlucci, Council Secretary/Director Teal and Chief of Legislative Services Bernadette D. Smith. Roll call: 18 present, White excused. Invocation by two public safety chaplains. The next council meeting was September 22, 2026; committee meetings the week of September 14 were Rules (Monday 9:00 a.m., Gay), NCSPHS (Monday 1:00 p.m., Miller), TEU (Tuesday 9:00 a.m., Amaro), Finance (Tuesday 1:00 p.m., Lahnen), LUZ Agenda Meeting (Tuesday 4:30 p.m., J. Carlucci) and LUZ (Tuesday 5:00 p.m.).