2026-09-22 - City Council

00:01All right. All right. Good evening and

00:03welcome. I call to order the September

00:0622nd, 2026 meeting of the Jacksonville

00:09City Council. I'll turn it over to the

00:11floor leader.

00:12>> Thank you, Mr. President.

00:15As usual, our first order of business is

00:16the invocation and pledge of allegiance.

00:18Ask that you please recognize Councilman

00:20Omero, our council chaplain. Introduce

00:22the lead pastor of Rivertown Church.

00:25>> Councilman Omero.

00:27>> Thank you, Mr. President.

00:31Tonight, our invocation will be

00:33delivered by Pastor Dan Adams. Uh Dan

00:36was born and raised in Jangsville. He

00:39attended college at Sanford University

00:41in Birmingham, Alabama, where he earned

00:44his bachelor of science and history in

00:471995. Then he subsequently attended and

00:50earned his master's of divinity in 1998

00:54from Beon Divinity School. He also

00:57earned a masters in business

00:59administration from Liberty University

01:01in 2009 and most recently his master of

01:04theology from Southern Seminary in 2022.

01:08He is also continuing his studies

01:12as a doctor of ministry student at the

01:15Reformed Theological Seminary.

01:18Dan is also a member of Sigma Kai,

01:22a fraternity he joined during his

01:23college days. Um Dan is also the

01:27founding and lead pastor of Rivertown

01:30Church in Jacksonville's

01:32intra coastal and beach community and

01:34with prior services at churches in

01:36Birmingham, Orlando, and Jacksonville.

01:40He's married to his college sweetheart

01:42Amber. Uh in 1995, they got married and

01:46have two sons and live in the intra

01:48coastal area of Jax. He loves hanging

01:51out with his family, his wife and sons,

01:53and he enjoys golf and tennis and

01:56softball and basketball and working out

02:01in his free time. He loves Jacksonville

02:04and he's privileged to live and serve

02:08our city. Please receive Pastor Dan

02:11Adams for tonight's invocation.

02:14>> We appreciate every one of you who are

02:17stewards of the city. God created

02:19cities. He loves cities. We love this

02:22city and thank you for what you do for

02:24the good of our city. I know that

02:25oftentimes it goes unrecognized and

02:27unfortunately you probably hear more

02:29negative than positive, but you guys are

02:32crushing it. You're killing it. We

02:34appreciate what you're doing for our

02:35city. Jacksonville is a much better city

02:38than when I grew up here in ' 91. I

02:41couldn't wait to get out of here. Right?

02:42The city smelled like sulfur water and

02:44we all remember those days, right? Not

02:47much nightife, not much fun to do for a

02:49guy in his 20s, right? So I was like,

02:50I'm out. I'm dipping. And this, you have

02:52made this city, you have partnered with

02:54so many amazing business leaders and and

02:57nonprofit leaders to make this an

02:58amazing city to live in. So thank you.

03:00It's not perfect. We know that. Thank

03:02you for getting that stadium done. Thank

03:05you. Go Jags. And we love you. And we

03:08are praying constantly. We're going to

03:09pray for you right now, but we also are

03:11praying for you throughout the week,

03:12throughout the month, throughout the

03:13year. So we really really appreciate

03:16what you're doing to breathe life into

03:17this city.

03:19Let's pray. God, in the name of Jesus,

03:21thank you for Jacksonville, good old

03:24Duvall. And we thank you for these

03:26leaders that you have ordained to to

03:28lead us, to guide us, to shape us, and

03:31to direct us, to give us vision, and to

03:33inspire us, and motivate us. And we

03:34thank you as they breathe life into of

03:36his city that um you are making this a a

03:40place for human flourishing, for your

03:42glory and our good. And we pray God for

03:44peace, joy, unity. And tonight as we

03:46talk budget, that that's a fun topic.

03:48Everybody loves it. Uh we you created

03:50money God. And even in the midst of a

03:52money conversation, you can give peace

03:54and you can give joy. You can give

03:55vision and direction. And and most

03:57significantly, you give a unity. And so

03:59we pray for just that. We pray for

04:01cooperation, civility, and we pray that

04:04uh we would be fueled and led by your

04:06spirit, by your grace, uh driven by the

04:09joy that you give us through Jesus. We

04:10thank you, God, for the fact that you

04:13you promise wisdom if we ask you for it.

04:15So, God, we're asking you for wisdom

04:17coming into tonight. We may not have the

04:19wisdom we need, but we're asking you to

04:21give it to us. And we, Lord, when we

04:23lack wisdom, you say that you'll give it

04:24to us generously if we ask you for it.

04:26So, give us wisdom, God. Give us uh

04:28strength, give us uh perseverance and

04:30grace. And uh we thank you for the

04:34people in this room and for what you are

04:36doing in this city. All for the glory of

04:38your son, Jesus. It's in Christ's name

04:39we pray. Amen.

04:40>> Amen.

04:41>> Thank you.

04:41>> Amen.

04:44>> I pledge allegiance

04:45>> to the flag of the United States of

04:48America and to the republic for which it

04:50stands, one nation under God,

04:54indivisible, with liberty and justice

04:56for all.

05:03Mr. President, in order to keep us in a

05:05proper posture

05:07because of our early start time today, I

05:09need for us to move the approval of a

05:11waving council rule 4.102

05:14in order to authorize the early

05:16commencement of this meeting to 4 p.m.

05:19>> Second.

05:20>> All right, we have a motion and a second

05:21to approve the waiver of rule 4.102

05:23regarding meeting starting time. We'll

05:25take this vote by hand. All in favor of

05:30approval of the waiver, indicate by

05:32raising your hand,

05:36and keep it up, please.

05:42All right, the waiver passes. Thank you,

05:44Mr. Fer Leader.

05:45>> It's now time for the approval of the

05:46minutes from the regular council meeting

05:48of two weeks ago. I move the approval.

05:50>> Uh, sir, before we do that, um, we will

05:52do roll call.

05:53>> All right.

05:59Thank you for keeping me in proper

06:00proper posture.

06:03>> All right. Um 19 are present. We have a

06:05quorum.

06:05>> It's now time to approve the minutes of

06:07the meeting last regular council

06:09meeting.

06:10>> I move the approval.

06:12>> We have a motion and a second on

06:13approving the minutes of the regular

06:14meeting of September 8th. We will take

06:16this vote verbally. All in favor

06:17indicate by saying I. I. All against say

06:20no. The minutes pass.

06:22>> President, we have a handful of

06:23communications from the mayor and other

06:24entities. Would you like those read or

06:26filed with legislative services?

06:28>> Let's file them, please.

06:29>> Yes. It's now my pleasure to introduce

06:31today's pages. Lewis Menddees Jr. of Kip

06:35Bold City High School and Elusabido. I

06:39hope I got that right. Jazz Jr. from the

06:42Kip Impact Academy. Please join me in

06:44thanking them for their assistance

06:46today.

06:50Now, for the benefit of of both those in

06:52the chamber and those watching online, I

06:55would like to convey that as per your

06:57instructions, Mr. President, we'll be

06:59taking up all non-public hearing items

07:02first in this order. Quai judicial

07:05ordinances beginning on page five,

07:07followed by the consent agenda beginning

07:09on page eight with public comment

07:11thereafter. Should that take us past

07:145:00 pm, then we will proceed with the

07:16rest of the agenda in order with the

07:18exception of the budget bills, items 77

07:21through 89 found on page 36 and 44. 244.

07:27Again, as per the president's

07:29instructions, these budget bills as well

07:31as 2026 510 and I believe it's 264

07:35564 will which will be pulled from the

07:38consent agenda will be concluding be the

07:42include concluding items for tonight's

07:44meeting. If in the event those uh we

07:47conclude public comment uh before 5:00,

07:50then we'll proceed to page 41 item

07:53number 90 followed by the rest of the

07:55third reading ordinances. Again, I will

07:57keep you as best I can a breast of where

08:00we are in the agenda.

08:02>> Yeah. And to summarize for everybody,

08:04basically what that means is we'll take

08:05the budget bills up sequentially at the

08:08end of the meeting as the last items to

08:09be addressed.

08:10>> Couldn't have said it better myself. We

08:12are now ready for the quai judicial

08:14actions. I would like to remind all

08:16concerned that these items we are now

08:18taking up do not include public hearings

08:20as these matters were thoroughly

08:22reviewed at the committee level and

08:23where public hearings were part of the

08:25decisionmaking process. Council members

08:28are reminded to declare any exparte

08:30communications.

08:31Our first item on page five is 2026559.

08:35I move the bill.

08:37>> We have a motion a second on the bill.

08:39That's 2026559.

08:42Seeing no speakers in the queue, let's

08:43open the ballot and record your vote.

08:53>> 19 yay, zero nays.

08:54>> And by your vote 2026 0559 is approved.

08:58>> Item number two, 2026 566. I move the

09:00bill.

09:01>> We have a motion and a second on the

09:02bill. No speakers. Let's open the ballot

09:04and court your vote.

09:1319 yays, zero nays.

09:14>> By your vote, 2026 0566 passes.

09:17Reminder, if anyone has exparte, just

09:19get on it before we take the vote.

09:21>> Item number three, 2026 618. I move the

09:23bill.

09:24>> We have a motion and a second on the

09:26bill. No one on the queue. Let's open

09:28the ballot and record your vote.

09:4419. Yay. Zero nays.

09:46>> By your vote, 2026 0618 passes.

09:49>> Turning to page six, item number four,

09:502026 619. I move the bill.

09:54>> We have a motion and a second on the

09:55bill. We're on 2026 0619. There are no

09:58speakers. Let's open the ballot and

09:59record your vote.

10:2119 yay zero nazs.

10:22>> And by your vote 2026 0619 passes.

10:25>> Item number five, 2026 620. I move the

10:28bill.

10:29>> We have a motion and a second on the

10:30bill. No speakers on the queue. Let's

10:32open the ballot and your vote.

10:4719 yay, zero nays.

10:49>> And by your vote, 2026 0620 passes.

10:52>> Item number six, 2026 621. I move the

10:55bill.

10:56>> We have a motion and a second on the

10:58bill.

10:59We have uh Miss Clark Murray on the

11:01queue.

11:02>> Thank you, President Holland. I rise to

11:04declare exparte. I spoke with Steven

11:06Wood on September 15th via phone and

11:10simply we talked about why he wanted to

11:11reszone the property from commercial

11:14neighborhood to CCG2 and the proper

11:17paperwork will be filed with legislative

11:18services.

11:19>> Thank you ma'am and no other speakers.

11:21Let's open the ballot and record your

11:22vote.

11:3319 yays, zero nays.

11:34>> By your vote, 2026 0621 passes.

11:38>> Turning to page number seven, item

11:40number

11:41seven, 2026 622. I move the bill.

11:44>> We have a motion, a second on the bill.

11:46We have no speakers. Let's open the

11:48ballot and record your vote.

11:5619 yay, zero nays.

11:57>> And by your vote, 2026 0622 passes.

12:01>> Item number eight, 2026 6661. I move the

12:04bill.

12:05>> We have a motion and a second on the

12:07bill. No speakers on the queue. Let's

12:09open the ballot and record your vote.

12:2219 yay, zero nays.

12:23>> By your vote, 2026 0661 passes. Mr.

12:27>> President, we are now ready for the

12:28consent agenda. Want to remind my

12:31colleagues that if you want to be added

12:32as a co-sponsor on any of these items,

12:34please let the chief of legislative

12:36services know via email. As council

12:38rules prohibit us pulling items for that

12:40purpose this evening, Mr. Teal, would

12:42you please read the bills? 2026 510

12:47639

12:49663 664 665 666 668 669 670 679 680 682

13:0067 I'm sorry 734 735 736 737 and 738

13:09>> All right,

13:09>> Mr. President, I move the consent agend

13:11agenda less item number nine, 2026 510.

13:15>> All right. Do we have a second on that?

13:16>> Second.

13:17>> Okay, we have a second. I'll recognize

13:18Councilman Landon.

13:20>> Thank you, Mr. President. Just the

13:21reason that 2026 510 was pulled. It is a

13:24budget bill with multiple council

13:25members that have conflict. So, I

13:27recommend that we move it to the budget

13:28bill section and take it up in a

13:30sequential order with the rest of the

13:31budget bills.

13:32>> We'll do. Thank you, sir.

13:34Okay. We have a motion and a second to

13:36approve the consent agenda minus 2026

13:380510.

13:40There are no speakers in the queue.

13:41Let's open the ballot and record your

13:43vote.

13:50>> 19 yays, zero nays.

13:52>> And by your vote, the consent agenda

13:54passes minus 2026 0510. I would like to

13:57lay 0510 on the table to come later on

14:00the agenda after bill 2026 0509 to be um

14:05grouped together with the budget

14:07amendments as the budget bills as Mr.

14:09Lane suggested.

14:10>> And Mr. President, at this time would

14:11you like to recognize the rules chair?

14:14>> Uh Mr. Rule chair, Mr. Gay, you're

14:16recognized.

14:18>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh we've just

14:20approved the following appointments as

14:21part of the consent agenda. Uh if you

14:24are in the audience, please stand to be

14:25recognized. Uh Becky Morgan to the

14:28downtown development review board, Leia

14:31Hodes,

14:33to the Jack's Journey Forward Board,

14:37Steven Campbell to the building code

14:38adjustment board, and please join me in

14:42thanking them for their service.

14:45Thank you, Mr. President.

14:51Mr. Mr. President, we are now ready for

14:53public comment. As per Ordinance

14:562022475,

14:58council members are reminded that this

15:00is our time to hear from the public and

15:03this is not a time for questions or

15:06answers or debate. However, a member of

15:08the public may be invited to the Robert

15:10Johnson room for further discussion. A

15:12council member, subject to approval, the

15:14president may ask for that invitation.

15:18Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to

15:19speak, you should have filled out a

15:21public comment card. No cards will be

15:24accepted after 5:00 pm this evening.

15:27Council rules call for the a lotment of

15:2990 minutes for public comment. The

15:31allowed time for allowed time of three

15:34minutes may be shortened. So all those

15:36wishing to speak will have an

15:37opportunity to do so. Given at the

15:40present time we have 15 cards, three

15:42minutes will be allowed for each speaker

15:44unless that number changes dramatically.

15:49All right,

15:52give me a second here to find the rest

15:54of my script.

16:01All right,

16:10I do that. Now, Mr. Teal, would you

16:12please read the rules?

16:16Council rule 4.505

16:18disruption of meeting.

16:20Any person who disrupts a regular

16:22meeting of the city council, standing

16:24committees, special or select

16:25committees, subcommittees, or any other

16:27public meeting presided over by a city

16:29council member may be forth with barred,

16:32removed, or otherwise ejected in the

16:34discretion of the presiding officer from

16:36further attendance at that meeting. If

16:39necessary, due to the nature of the

16:40disruption, the audience may be cleared

16:42from the council chambers or meeting

16:44location in the discretion of the

16:45presiding officer. Any person who

16:48refuses to leave the city council

16:49chamber may be subject to arrest.

16:53>> Thank you. Uh I'm going to call up the

16:55first five people to come to front,

16:57please sit in the reserve seats up

16:59front. Carnell Oliver

17:02I believe it's Vivcom Gapel

17:06Katie Hathaway

17:08Blake Harper

17:10and Frank Cerillo.

17:13Again, if you have bags or anything with

17:15you, make sure you put them on the table

17:17to the right. And please note the start

17:19time as 420.

17:23>> Uh yes, my name is Carell. Address is on

17:25fire. I want to just be fundamental. Um,

17:28government spending should give a return

17:30on investment with policies that enforce

17:33it.

17:36This country is built off of two

17:38separate Civil Rights Act, the 1866

17:43and the 1964.

17:45What Dr. King did was he was

17:49he set foundational black Americans up

17:53for failure.

17:55The immigrants replaced us. You want to

17:57know how we got replaced? I can go to

17:59JTA and I can see in their procurement,

18:04their hiring policy, they put immigrants

18:07first.

18:09So, you know what I did? I reached out

18:12to Congressman Aaron Bean's office. I

18:15reached out to John Ruerford office to

18:18get an appropriation authorization where

18:21the 1866 Civil Rights Act and the 1964

18:26Civil Rights Act is complied across the

18:29board because I'm talking about spending

18:33because I'm going tell you something. I

18:35do support

18:37the property tax exemption because what

18:40you don't know I went to DC when Trump

18:43got in office and he cut off that USA ID

18:47money. I never seen so many NOS's

18:50scramble looking to save their life. You

18:54saw the politicians and the fake people

18:57behind them started dwindling down

19:00because there's no money involved.

19:03They're not for the people.

19:07All these folks in this room and the

19:10conversation of renovating the council

19:13chambers needs to go out the door

19:15because you have an obligation number

19:16one to serve the people. And what you've

19:19done, this council is corrupt. This

19:22mayor has failed the people, the

19:24administration, and the board over there

19:27at JTA. They all need to be fired.

19:31Y'all ran along with the mayor. She

19:33already catching heat. She know she

19:35going out the door. Every last one of

19:37y'all should go out the door with her

19:40because you knew about this. And the one

19:44thing that I need y'all to do with these

19:46amendments, all this BS, let's look at

19:50cutting KHA funding down and let's

19:52redirect that money to JTA. It is

19:55critical infrastructure.

19:58I don't need leeches. I don't need these

20:02crackers that represent nonprofits

20:04getting in our business

20:07because you done pissed off so many

20:09people and you done broke so much

20:12furniture for a dollar.

20:15That's why I'm in support because we go

20:17back to segregation. We go back to the

20:19old city limits. That's why I support

20:22amendment three. I get you out my

20:25business.

20:26>> Thank you. Next we have Dr. Gapal.

20:32Good afternoon, council. My name is Dr.

20:34Vicram Gopal, and I would like to thank

20:37all of you for your support for Wilson

20:39Children's Hospital and what you do for

20:42our community. I'm a native of

20:43Jacksonville, born and raised on the

20:45west side. I'm a product of Duval County

20:47Public School from Normandy Elementary

20:49to Stanton College Preparatory School. I

20:52raised my family in Arlington and I live

20:54there now. And I would just like to

20:56bring my two partners who are also in

20:58support of your support for us at what

21:01we do at Wilson Children's Hospital.

21:06>> Please give us your name and address.

21:10>> Uh good evening. I'm Sequoia Williams.

21:12I'm also here with Dr. Paul to thank you

21:14all for your support of funding toward

21:17um the Wilson Children's Hospital and

21:19the future of families here in

21:21Jacksonville creating pipelines for

21:23physicians and graduate medical

21:25education.

21:28>> And your name please?

21:29>> Yes. Kina Sanders address

21:3313074 Burwickshshire Drive,

21:36Jacksonville, Florida 32224.

21:39Um I am also here with my my partners as

21:42a physician with uh Wolson's Children's

21:44Hospital. Again, thanking you all for

21:47your consideration of enhancing our

21:50ability to um educate and train

21:54residencies to fill an a much needed gap

21:57in pediatric care as well as OBGYn. And

22:01so with that, we thank you.

22:03>> Thank you.

22:05Young ladies, if you wouldn't mind

22:07taking a minute to fill out the public

22:09comment cards. We have on record your

22:11information.

22:13And Mr. Pusso, do you want us to like to

22:15meet with them in the Johnson room?

22:19All right.

22:21Next, we have Katie Hathaway.

22:29>> Good afternoon. I'm Katie Hathaway. My

22:31address is on file. I'm here to ask that

22:33you restore the 4.9 million investment

22:36in the affordable housing trust fund.

22:38Jacksonville is growing and there's so

22:40much happening in our city that we

22:42should be excited about, but that

22:43progress means very little if the people

22:45who make our city great can't afford to

22:47live here. Our teachers should be able

22:50to live in the communities where they

22:51teach. Our first responders should be

22:53able to live in the neighborhoods that

22:55they protect. A young family should be

22:57able to imagine buying their first home

22:58without feeling like that dream is

23:00slipping further out of reach. And

23:02sometimes the difference between that

23:04dream and a reality is simply having a

23:06little help to fill the gap. It's a down

23:09payment that puts home ownership within

23:10reach. It's JA TAP fees and it's a real

23:14investment in keeping up with the growth

23:15and housing needs in our city. And

23:18there's another investment in this

23:19budget that matters deeply to our

23:21community. Please move the full funding

23:23for public service and cultural service

23:25grants above the line. These are

23:27economic drivers that have a tremendous

23:30return on investment for our city and

23:32they contribute to our quality of life.

23:34So, please keep the people of

23:35Jacksonville at the heart of every

23:36decision you make and restore these

23:38investments in the budget tonight. Thank

23:40you so much.

23:41>> Thank you. Next, we have Blake Harper.

24:03Blake Harper information on file. I feel

24:05like a rich man with three minutes

24:06tonight. Thank you folks.

24:08So last time you all met, you voted to

24:11protect the Second Amendment in the city

24:13of Jacksonville. We're going to memor

24:16memor memorialize that vote. It was 16

24:19to3. And when you take a look at the the

24:22prior recorded votes and comments of the

24:25three who voted against the Constitution

24:27of the United States and Florida, it

24:30kind of is no surprise. And I wanted to

24:32go through those. First of all, we want

24:34to remember that during the dis the

24:36rules committee at disrupt at the

24:38disruption ordinance that well um that

24:40Rockman Johnson told us that the

24:42founding fathers did not know see people

24:45of color when in fact he did. Then of

24:48course in chronologically speaking, our

24:50friend Jimmy Paluso put up a bill called

24:53the hate crime ordinance which would uh

24:55cause people to be arrested and and

24:57fines paid for uh for exercising their

25:00first amendment rights. And speaking of

25:03first amendment rights, when I was at uh

25:05TEU talking about the renaming of

25:08street, our friend Jacobe Pitman

25:10infringed on and violated my first

25:12amendment rights. So that those three

25:14voted against that that kind of kind of

25:17um kind of is no surprise. But here's

25:19the part that I think you all need to

25:21see and remember and it has to do with

25:23the Democrat party. You know, uh

25:26remember Jimmy talking about the fact

25:28that uh the Second Amendment caused, you

25:30know, the guns caused blood in the

25:32streets and he wanted to infringe on

25:33people's second amendment rights. Well,

25:35we have to remember historically where

25:38those gun laws came from. They came from

25:41the Democrats in the source in the south

25:43as part of the black codes. So going

25:46back to the uh TEU uh meeting that

25:49Jacobe Pitman violated my rights, I held

25:51up a sign and that sign showed that

25:54Democrats were for white people and

25:57Republicans were for Negroes. That's

25:59exactly what it said. And that is as

26:01true today as it was back then. So thank

26:04you for protecting the Second Amendment.

26:06Thank you for protecting the

26:07Constitution. and to the 16 city council

26:10members who understand their

26:12responsibility of to the the

26:14constitution not only of the United

26:16States but of the uh state of Florida.

26:18Thank you very much. Thank you. Next we

26:21have Frank Cerillo. In the meantime, I'm

26:23going to invite down to the front Dutch

26:25Stevens, Denise Rean, Allison Galloway

26:28Gonzalez,

26:30Jamie Travis Leonard, and James Schwarz.

26:35>> Hello, city council. My name is Frank

26:36Cerillo. My address is 344 East Ashley

26:39Street, Jacksonville, Florida. 32202.

26:42Um, I was going to come talk to you guys

26:44about some minute budget issues raising

26:48JA rates. I'm in favor of everything

26:50Katie Hathaway said. Um, but during the

26:52invocation, I was looking down at my

26:54phone at the news and I saw an article

26:56that said, "How unarmed 911 teams are

26:59reshaping public safety in nearly 100

27:01cities." And then I remembered Asia

27:03Bennett.

27:05And I feel like our city council needs

27:08to have a lot more creativity when it

27:10comes to things we can do with our

27:12budget because the budget is, as the

27:14invocation said, how we reflect our

27:16society, what God chooses to help people

27:19with, and how the city reflects helping

27:21its citizens. Um, I was a part a couple

27:25years ago, I was in New York City on the

27:27subway, witnessed a stabbing right in

27:29front of me. I actually got subpoenaed,

27:30had to go back to New York, was in a

27:32grand jury trial, had to be a witness.

27:37I did not feel any need to be in danger

27:40when I was in front of this incident.

27:42There was people in the car screaming

27:43and yelling and then the NYPD

27:46subdued the gentleman and he got to

27:47stand trial. Asia Bennett's not here

27:50today. We could have a program like this

27:52in our city that actually intervenes to

27:54help people that doesn't require our men

27:57and women that are serving this city put

27:59their line and draw their gun and make

28:01people feel afraid and also make them

28:03subject to liability. We should be

28:06having programs that actually help

28:08people and intervene and actually put

28:10funds towards issues of mental health

28:12and poverty as opposed to reacting to

28:15things. We should be preventatively

28:17trying to help solve problems, not

28:19trying to just band-aid over things. I

28:22would love for you guys to put an actual

28:23budget amendment together to actually

28:26put your money where your mouth is

28:27during this upcoming budget cycle and

28:29propose a program like this. I will be

28:32pleasantly surprised if you do so

28:33because I don't think there's any plans

28:35to do that right now, but I really hope

28:37you consider that. Thank you so much.

28:40>> Thank you. Next, we have Dutchy Stevens.

28:48Good evening, Duchess Stevens. The

28:50address is on file. Um, what I want to

28:52let y'all know, um, we getting too much

28:54illegal fraud with a lot of these city

28:56parks, especially Singleton Park right

28:59there on Richardson Road, and we've been

29:00calling um, District 10, but we haven't

29:02heard nothing back. We finding out that

29:04a lot of the private teams,

29:07organizations, they've been coming over

29:09using Singleton Park on the north side

29:11instead of going to the park they've

29:12been assigned to on the west side.

29:14They've been tearing up the chain length

29:16fencing. We don't send that to the White

29:18House. And I don't call Mr. Daryl Joseph

29:21on numerous occasions. We haven't heard

29:24anything back. I think y'all better shut

29:26that part down because it's two stank

29:28retention ponds over there. Every time

29:29they flush that toilet at that Rufus E

29:31paint elementary school who property

29:33that really truly is or at the park,

29:36it's not going down the drainage, it's

29:38going in the retention ponds. And that

29:40stinks cuz I got the feeling it's going

29:43to bring that shooting back out at these

29:44city parks like it used to be at Grandpa

29:47some years ago cuz some of them be

29:49parking all on the city right away on

29:51top of the sidewalks. People can't even

29:53walk straight down the sidewalk. I ain't

29:55never heard of it called Side Drive. I

29:58think it's called sidewalks

30:00and we call district 10. Don't hear

30:02nothing back.

30:04That's the worst council representative

30:05district 10 ever had in his life. And

30:08baby, I don't play. You can't touch the

30:10Dutch, but I can sure get a bust cuz

30:12enough is enough. But we getting sick

30:15and tired of this parks and recreations

30:18because I don't understand how Daryl

30:19Jose is still the executive director of

30:21parks and recreation. He was arrested

30:23for DUI. He must be coming to work at

30:26that air ball building with some

30:27moonshine in his brain if he don't want

30:29to take care of these damn city paws.

30:32Cuz enough is enough cuz they be parking

30:34all in our driveways. They run out of

30:36parking spaces. Ain't nothing but 19 in

30:38the front and 19 in the back. Enough is

30:41enough. Cuz I had to come out with my

30:43gun to tell that joke, "You better get

30:44that car in my driveway." This is not a

30:46part of the Sangleton Park.

30:49So enough is enough. I think y'all need

30:51to shut down a lot of these city parks

30:53cuz too many of them is not clean. Y'all

30:56probably can start some volunteer

30:58organization where some of us that live

31:00in the community where the city parts

31:01are can probably pitch in and help you

31:05know you know the city in straightening

31:08it out cuz I just don't feel like Daryl

31:10Josie is doing his job and he cares too

31:12much by parks like he used to cuz that's

31:15not even the parks and recreation lock

31:17that's on that gate. guys cut that lock

31:19off that gate. They put their own lock

31:21up there and they come and open the gate

31:23and use the pot for free illegally. They

31:25not being charged $150 per hours. That's

31:28illegal fraud and we got to get the ball

31:30rolling. Uh we may have to act like

31:32Donald Trump. Thank you.

31:35>> Thank we have Denise Rean.

31:42Hello, my name is Denise Reagan

31:46and I'm the executive director of the

31:48Five and Dime. We're a nonprofit

31:50community theater. We are celebrating

31:52our 15th anniversary after having

31:55produced more than 90 plays and musicals

31:58and we've attracted more than 28,000

32:00audience members over that time. We have

32:03developed a reputation for telling

32:04stories that spark community

32:06conversations and for staging high

32:08quality artistic productions.

32:12We present plays and musicals over other

32:15theaters just don't do and we bring new

32:18content to Jacksonville. Our productions

32:21consistently receive high ratings. 85%

32:24of survey respondents rate their

32:26experience five out of five.

32:2998% of Facebook users recommend us and

32:32our Google reviews average 4.8 out of

32:35five stars. According to the arts and

32:38economic prosperity calculator, the five

32:40and dimes $185,000

32:43in expenses generates another $13,000 in

32:46spending by audience members on dining,

32:49transportation, and other services. The

32:52vast majority of our budget is spent in

32:55Jacksonville supporting jobs for staff,

32:59opportunities for more than 90 theater

33:01artists every year, set building

33:03materials, props, costumes, and more. In

33:08the past, the five and dime has received

33:10approximately $24,000 in CSGP funding.

33:14So, the city receives a huge return on

33:16its investment.

33:18Losing CSGB funding, which we use to pay

33:21the Florida Ballet, another CSGP

33:24recipient, will force us to transfer

33:26funds we raise from individuals that pay

33:29for programming currently. That will

33:32drastically reduce the plays we can

33:34offer to the public and opportunities

33:37for theater artists. It could also

33:39curtail our ability to keep ticket

33:41prices low and provide pay what you

33:45please nights for those who can't afford

33:48regularly priced tickets.

33:51As the daughter of former city council

33:53member Harry Reagan, who died in late

33:56July,

33:58I implore you to follow his example and

34:01support the rich arts and culture that

34:03make Jacksonville an attractive place to

34:05live and stay.

34:08Please support 100% sustained funding

34:12for the cultural service grant program.

34:15I invite you all to attend a show at the

34:16five and dime. Just call me up and I'll

34:18be happy to give you a ticket. Thank you

34:21for listening, for your service, and for

34:24your support.

34:25>> Mr. Reagan, before you step away, could

34:27you your address or at least mention

34:29it's on your name? It's on record.

34:31>> It's on the card that I filled out.

34:32>> Thank you very much. Next, we have

34:35Allison Galloway Gonzalez.

34:41Good evening everyone. Allison Galloway

34:43Gonzalez. My address is on record. I'm a

34:46proud resident and business owner in

34:48Springfield.

34:49Good evening council members.

34:53I am a small business owner. I own two

34:56businesses and one commercial property

34:58in town and I'm very proud to call

35:00Jacksonville my home since 20 um since

35:042009.

35:06I came from lots of other cities that

35:09have really proud cultural arts uh

35:12amenities, but I found a beautiful home

35:15here in Jacksonville because of that.

35:19My work

35:22supports the nonprofits and the arts

35:24organizations that are funded with city

35:28council dollars. And I can tell you and

35:30testify from deeply going in those

35:33budgets and really understand their

35:35operational

35:36models that they are some of the most

35:38fiscally responsible businesses in this

35:40city. They have oversight from you and

35:4350,000 other donors both locally and

35:47nationally.

35:49They do a lot with a little, but there

35:52is a line of how much they can do and I

35:56can help them do.

35:59But really, beyond my full-time job and

36:03my business,

36:05I want to talk about being a mom. I am a

36:08Duval County Public Schools mother. My

36:11kids go to summer camps, arts after

36:14school, they skate at the igloo, they

36:17participate in this huge amount of third

36:21spaces in Jacksonville, if you will. We

36:24take advantage of everything

36:26Jacksonville has to offer.

36:28In fact, this Monday, my daughter, who

36:32is 12, starts the Jacksonville

36:34Children's Chorus. She is so excited

36:37about beginning that journey. She's

36:39someone who doesn't even have a big

36:41social life. She's very introverted. So,

36:43for her to tell me she wanted to learn

36:44to sing was such a big deal.

36:49You all are going to vote today on

36:50whether she gets to start that journey

36:53on Monday. It is that immediate.

36:58I know some of you have worked hard to

37:00make sure that these cuts weren't even

37:02deeper than they are now, and I want to

37:04thank you for that. But I also want to

37:06ask you to finish it.

37:09I know that the rest of you are fighting

37:12for taxpayers to get their money back,

37:14but let me tell you where I want my tax

37:16dollars to go. I want them to go to

37:18this. I know that a fraction of a cent

37:22that I give turns into a dollar with you

37:24all turns into $20 of benefits in this

37:29community. There's no better investment

37:31that I can make, certainly not Wall

37:33Street, in my community and for my

37:36children. I ask you to please consider

37:38the amendments that are on the table

37:40that would support our programs. Thank

37:43you.

37:44Next we have Jamie

37:47Travis Leonard.

37:53>> Good evening, city council. My name is

37:54Jamie Travis Leonard. I feel by this

37:56point we're all very well acquainted

37:57with each other. I've been coming here

37:59regularly.

38:00>> Oh, excuse me. Thank you, sir.

38:03>> Uh my address is on file.

38:05>> See, look, I come here so often I

38:06forgot.

38:07>> I was here last year when we had a very

38:10contentious budget meeting that lasted.

38:12Now, I will say I left I think about

38:141:30 a.m. I know all of you and some

38:16members of the audience were here much

38:18later. Maybe it was 2:30, but point is

38:20is it was pushing 12 hours, if not over,

38:23if memory serves correctly. Um, I hope

38:25this budget meeting is not a similar

38:27experience for all of us. I do want to

38:30give some flowers out, especially for

38:32the last city council meeting. I don't

38:33get to do that as often as I'd like. I

38:35appreciate the calm with which you all

38:38address the public and so far the calm

38:39you have continued to address the

38:41public. I know we have new speakers that

38:43come. Sometimes they go over time. We

38:45know those who come us regularly how we

38:47have to stick to a schedule. But I

38:49appreciate the grace you gave to a lot

38:51of people and I hope I continue to see

38:52that uh through our council president,

38:55our speaker and our vice president. I

38:57was very impressed last meeting and I

38:59hope we have a similar meeting this

39:00time.

39:02With that in mind, I hope you do listen

39:05to the people that come to speak. As I

39:07said, I was here last year. Now you all

39:09get paid to be here. I do not the people

39:12in this audience do not. We have other

39:16obligations that do not always work with

39:19this. So we are having to fight our own

39:21obligations whether financial or

39:23familial to be here on our off time. So

39:27when we come to speak to you listen

39:30because I fear some of you don't. I fear

39:32some of you are so entrenched in your

39:35own echo chamber that you do not hear

39:38what we're saying when we say this is

39:40where we want our money to go to. I'm a

39:42homeowner. I pay taxes. I'm happy to pay

39:44my taxes because I'm hoping my taxes

39:47will go to serve my community because

39:49that's how this works. So if I come up

39:52here and say I want my taxes to go to

39:54this believe me. That's all I want you

39:58to do. I want you to believe me and I

40:00want you to take that and do something

40:02with it because you're our stewards. You

40:04are the stewards of this city. What you

40:06do affects me. It affects my kids. It

40:09affects my neighbors. It affects all

40:11areas of this city. So listen to us. Be

40:15good stewards. Thank you.

40:18>> Thank you. Next we have James Schwarz.

40:20I'd like to invite down to the front,

40:22please, Amber Kierney, Cecilia

40:24Rodriguez, Carolyn Rosenberry,

40:28Reverend Madison Hilt, and Carol

40:31Hawkins. If you could please come down

40:32to the front. Go ahead, sir.

40:35>> My name is James Schwares. The address

40:37is on file. Good evening, city council

40:40members. Uh, I first want to express my

40:42appreciation to the 13 of the 19, 14 of

40:45the 19 who have stayed for public

40:48comments. Uh, I think there were far

40:50less that stayed for the comments of the

40:52last meeting and I I really appreciate

40:54the respect you're showing by listening

40:56to people. Um, I want to request that

40:58the four $4.9 million be restored for

41:02the affordable housing trust fund.

41:05Um, I had a wakeup call a few weeks

41:07back. I was under the impression that in

41:09the city of Jacksonville, if there was a

41:12homeless person that wanted help and

41:14wanted to get to a shelter, they would

41:16be able to get to a shelter. uh 7:00 in

41:19the morning, I was walking through

41:20Memorial Park and there was a young

41:22woman sitting on a bench there who was

41:24not one of the regulars. I asked her if

41:26she needed help and she explained to me

41:27that her whole life had fallen apart and

41:30she really needed help. And I had my

41:34cell phone, of course, and I called

41:36three agencies in Jacksonville that I

41:38thought were the agencies that could

41:40take care of somebody in this situation.

41:42And none of those agencies could do

41:45anything to help this woman that

41:46morning. And that was a real wakeup call

41:48for me that that things are not uh

41:50there's not a safety net for people.

41:53Now, the $4.9 million is not going to

41:56help this woman, but there are a lot of

41:58people out there that are one paycheck

42:00or one bad situation or circumstance

42:02away from being in that same situation.

42:05And this $4.9 million can help ensure

42:10that somebody else does not end up in

42:11that same situation. So, I strongly

42:14encourage you to restore that funding to

42:16the budget. Thank you.

42:19>> Thank you. Next, we have Amber Kierney.

42:27>> Hi. Um, my name is Amber Kney. Um, uh,

42:30my address is on file.

42:32Um, so I'm a pastor at Riverside Church.

42:36Um, every month I inevitably have a

42:38conversation with one of my

42:40parishioners. um where they either sit

42:42in my office and cry and talk to me

42:46about something going on with their

42:47lives or I'm on the phone with them and

42:50they're telling me consistently they're

42:52struggling to find housing. They're

42:54struggling to make ends meet. Many of

42:56them are newly working professionals and

42:59are thinking about moving outside of our

43:01great city. Um, many of them, well, most

43:05of them, uh, they work full-time,

43:07sometimes even over full-time with

43:09multiple jobs. They're smart, they're

43:11educated, um, they love Jacksonville as

43:14much as I do, and they're trying really

43:16hard to get by. Um, and they still just

43:18can't find a place to live. Um, that

43:20they can afford to just live within 20

43:23minutes of their own jobs. Um, many of

43:25them are moved in with family members or

43:28I have older parishioners who have kids

43:30that are still living at home with them

43:32in their 20s and even in their 30s. Um,

43:36because it's just not the math isn't

43:38mapping. Um,

43:40and so, um, I'm a single mother. I'm uh,

43:43my master's degree and pastoring a

43:45church full-time uh, with parishioners

43:48of all different ages and stages of

43:50life. Um, and if it weren't for the

43:52rectory um that I'm generously offered,

43:56I likely would not be able to live here

43:59either. I would take my degree and my

44:01experience and find another city to

44:03pastor in. Um, but I love Jacksonville.

44:05It's my where my kids live is where my

44:07home is. Um, every person I talk to at

44:10my church loves our city, too. And we

44:12want to stay here and we want our

44:13children to have a future here. Um,

44:16Jacksonville is growing really fast and

44:19I just want people to be able to live

44:20here that make our city run. Our nurses,

44:22our teachers, parallegals, um, seniors

44:25who've worked their whole lives and are

44:27on fixed income, young families that

44:29called Duvall home. Um, so that's why

44:32I'm asking you guys to restore the $4.9

44:34million um, back in your budget for

44:37affordable housing. I know it's not

44:39going to fix everything, but it's a

44:41start. And if we think about it as if

44:44like

44:46that idea that like oh we can't fix all

44:48our problems if we applied that to any

44:50other area that sounds kind of crazy. Um

44:53doing something is at least a little bit

44:56of the problem. So I just ask that you

44:58reconsider pulling that from your

44:59budget. Thank you so much.

45:01>> Thank you ma'am. Next we have Cecilia

45:03Rodriguez please.

45:08>> Hello. Hi. I'm Cecilia Rodriguez. I live

45:10in Riverside. My address is on file. Uh

45:13I'm here today to ask you to restore the

45:15$4.9 million in the affordable housing

45:17trust fund. I've lived in Jacksonville

45:20for four years now. I've held several

45:22different jobs. I've been the person

45:24bagging your groceries, the person

45:26making your coffee, the person packing

45:28up shipments for the things you order

45:30online. And I have always struggled to

45:33afford housing here. I've never been

45:35able to live here on my own. When I

45:38lived with my fiance, we both worked

45:40essential jobs. We both worked in

45:41grocery. We could hardly afford rent,

45:44groceries, car insurance altogether. We

45:46pinched every penny. We rarely went out.

45:49Um, and when we broke up, we worried

45:52about being able to afford rent

45:54individually when we could barely afford

45:56it together. I now pay uh for a room in

45:59someone's house. Uh, a woman I know for

46:01my church, and I'm very lucky to know

46:03her. Uh, I can't afford rent without her

46:06uh, and without her and her college-aged

46:08kids that are my roommates. Not everyone

46:11knows someone that they can live with

46:13sustainably. U, I've had friends with

46:16horrible roommate situations, friends

46:18who have been locked into living with

46:20manipulative partners, friends, exes.

46:23Um, I recently finished my my four years

46:26in college. I have my bachelor's degree

46:27and I have a steady job as a dance

46:29instructor, but I don't have benefits or

46:32sick leave. uh I've saved up just enough

46:34time to like come here and share my

46:37story, but I know that so many people

46:39aren't here and can't share their story

46:40with you because they're out there

46:42working uh because they can't take the

46:44time off because they can't afford rent

46:45because they can't afford their bills.

46:47Um so if we want to be if we want

46:49Jacksonville to be a city that

46:50flourishes, we need to invest in the

46:53people that make this city run. Um, if

46:56we want this to be a city that prospers,

46:58we have to care for the people who are

47:00doing the jobs that we need that can't

47:02afford housing. So, thank you.

47:05>> Thank you. Next, we have Carolyn

47:06Rosenberry.

47:12>> Good afternoon. My name is Carolyn

47:14Rosenberry and my address is on file.

47:18As you're hearing, the need for

47:20affordable housing in Jacksonville is

47:22great. My church shares a building with

47:26an organization that provides assistance

47:29to homeless families with children. Most

47:32of these families are employed and these

47:34working families are trying to provide

47:38for their children, but they've lost

47:40their housing because their rents were

47:42increased and they didn't have enough

47:44income for child care, food, and medical

47:47bills in addition to the housing.

47:51One single mom was the director of a

47:54daycare center and still could not find

47:56a place to live that she could afford.

47:59Now, an affordable housing trust fund

48:01can be used for a wide variety of

48:03programs to benefit young families like

48:06these, but also senior citizens, health

48:10care, and other essential workers, all

48:12the folks who make our city run.

48:15And once established,

48:18an affordable housing trust fund can

48:21leverage matching private funds

48:25to supplement programs that are directed

48:27by the city. This to me makes so much

48:31sense that that with an investment from

48:34the city, we can can um multiply our our

48:40services. I urge you to return funding

48:43for the affordable housing trust fund to

48:45the city budget. Thank you.

48:47>> Thank you. Next, we have Reverend

48:49Madison Hilt.

48:55>> Reverend Madison Hilt, my address is on

48:57file.

48:59I'm here today, like many others, to ask

49:01you to restore the $4.9 million for the

49:05affordable housing trust fund to the

49:07city budget. There have been doubts

49:10amongst members on council if this money

49:14is worth it. This money

49:18would serve as a proof of concept

49:21that a plan for affordable housing in

49:23Jacksonville is sustainable.

49:26Now, I know many of you are astute

49:28business people

49:30and an astute business person tests a

49:33concept before they put it into action.

49:38This is much more than just a concept,

49:41though. This is a concept that will help

49:44so many families that are underserved in

49:47the Jacksonville area. Regardless of

49:50political belief, creed, this is

49:53something that is very drastically

49:55needed.

49:57About 50% of people in the homeless

50:01community in the state of Florida are

50:04working full-time jobs. Would you

50:07believe that? Because that's a statistic

50:10straight from the Federal Bureau of

50:11Labor Statistics.

50:16I'm talking a lot in business terms

50:18because I know that that's something

50:21that that you all get when you sharpen

50:22your pocket or sharpen your pencils and

50:24pull out your pocketbooks.

50:27Friends, I would suppose that if we are

50:29not paying people enough to sustain

50:33a life,

50:34then we have failed.

50:37Not just failed in a practical sense,

50:40but failed in a moral sense. It is our

50:44duty

50:45to make sure that people are safe, that

50:48people are fed, and that people are

50:51housed.

50:52One of the core tenants of Christianity

50:56is caring

50:58for the marginalized

51:00and people that are unable to have

51:03shelter are on that margin.

51:11It pains me that every week

51:15I talk to people in my congregation and

51:18in other congregations

51:21that are unable

51:24to pay their bills

51:27because their rent is so high. As a

51:29matter of fact, Jacksonville is the most

51:31unsustainable

51:33rental market in the US.

51:37That's another statistic.

51:39We are the eviction capital of the state

51:41of Florida.

51:43We need this money so that we can offset

51:46those things, have affordable housing,

51:49workforce housing in our area, and to

51:52make sure that folks can be safe. Thank

51:55you.

51:56>> Next, we have Carol Hawkins. In the

51:58meantime, I invite school board member

52:00Melody Balduk, Brian Jefferson, Emil

52:04Emily McMillan,

52:06Laura Bayer Fston, and Sarah Yates

52:09Gibson to please come down to the front.

52:11Yeah. Go ahead, ma'am.

52:12>> Thank you. My name is Carol Hawkins and

52:15my address is on file.

52:17I'm also here once again to urge all of

52:20you to restore the 4.9 million that our

52:23mayor put into the city budget for our

52:25affordable housing trust fund.

52:28If you look, it's very easy for each one

52:30of you to find just a stones throw away

52:33someone who's suffering because not

52:35being able to afford a home.

52:38They're in every district.

52:41And just last week, I heard two stories

52:44and it was just so easy to run into.

52:46There was a mother at my church who had

52:49been searching for months for a home for

52:50her disabled adult son. If they can't

52:53find one soon, they'll have to move to

52:55another city.

52:57The son can afford $800 a month from his

53:00disability income. There simply aren't

53:04enough homes in this price range in

53:07Jacksonville.

53:09I heard another story of a man who works

53:12with the homeless and he said to me, "I

53:16work with people who have jobs and who

53:19are homeless because they can't find a

53:21place that they can afford on the income

53:23that they get from their job.

53:27It's been two decades since the housing

53:30crisis and I remember it because I

53:33worked as a business report at the time.

53:34I was covering residential real estate.

53:36So I was talking all the time to

53:39realtors, builders, developers, people

53:41who went through this crisis.

53:44They started at the top of the market

53:45when they built again because they were

53:47afraid of not being able to earn their

53:49money back and they worked their way

53:52down. But our private sector by itself

53:56still to this day has not been able to

53:59bring back the housing supply for people

54:02who were living at half of the area

54:05median income.

54:08There is a role for government to play

54:11when this happens. And I urge you to

54:15please take a look at this.

54:19citizens stepped up nearly 20 years ago

54:22when we needed to bail out our banks and

54:24I agreed with that choice. I think it

54:26was the right thing to do. But now we

54:29need to step up for our own people here

54:31in Jacksonville.

54:33These people have done nothing wrong.

54:36They need our help. Thank you.

54:38>> Thank you. Next we have school board

54:40member Melody Balduk.

54:48Good evening, Melody Buljuk. Address on

54:51file.

54:52Um, Council President Allen and members

54:56of the city council. I'm speaking

54:57tonight as an individual schoolboard

55:00member and not on behalf of the entire

55:01board, which hasn't taken formal action

55:05on ordinance 2026570.

55:09However, our board has discussed ebike

55:12safety as part of our broader work

55:13through be safe, be seen campaign and

55:17our joint resolution with the city to

55:19protect students on Jacksonville's

55:21roadways. I am abundantly grateful for

55:24the partnership we have had with the

55:26city. Particularly, I'd like to thank

55:29council members Boland and Arius

55:32um for their work in district 7. Um,

55:34they have made our roadways around our

55:36schools safer through updated signals,

55:39increased signage, crosswalks, and other

55:42practical improvements. I also

55:44appreciate Council President Howland's

55:46leadership and his commitment to

55:47ensuring that the school district needs

55:49are heard during the budget process and

55:51this entire council's support of it.

55:53This ordinance is another practical step

55:56toward protecting our children. It

55:58establishes clear expectations for ebike

56:00riders, including a 15 mile perph limit

56:03on sidewalks and shared use paths,

56:05yielding to pedestrians, providing an

56:07audible warning before passing, wearing

56:10helmets for riders and passengers under

56:1216, and using proper lighting after

56:14dark. It also addresses unsafe

56:16operation, unauthorized passengers, and

56:18modifications that allow ebikes to

56:20exceed their designed speeds. Just as

56:23importantly, it includes education

56:25alongside enforcement. The required

56:27safety information and QR code will help

56:29families understand the law when they

56:31purchase an ebike. While DCPS can

56:35enforce that information through our

56:37existing health and physical education

56:40programs, we already have um education

56:43on ebikes for our students through our

56:45be safe been. So, we will should this

56:48pass be adding that education for our

56:51students. So, we just wanted to

56:52encourage you um that we will support

56:55whatever action you take as a council,

56:57as the board, and I want to thank uh

56:59Council Member Boland for championing

57:01this legislation, council president

57:03Allen for his leadership, and the entire

57:05city council for your continued

57:06commitment to protecting Jacksonville's

57:09children. Our students are safer when

57:10the city and the school district work

57:12together, and I'm deeply grateful to you

57:14all for the partnership. Thank you.

57:16>> Thank you. Next, we have Brian

57:17Jefferson.

57:20Mr. Jefferson.

57:23>> Emily McMillan.

57:30>> Howdy y'all. My name is Emily McMillan.

57:32Um, and my address is on the record, a

57:35nice little yellow card. Um, I wanted to

57:37thank y'all for your time,

57:38consideration, and stewardship here

57:40today. I've been in Jacksonville almost

57:42a decade, and I love it here. I love the

57:44people here, and I want to see all of us

57:46thrive. I'm here to ask you today to

57:48consider restoring the $4.9 million

57:51investment in the Affordable Housing

57:52Trust Fund. Affordable housing is

57:54important to every Jacksonville

57:55resident, myself included, because it

57:57strengthens the entire community's

57:59economy, health, and stability, not just

58:01the lives of those who rely on it. Our

58:04nurses, teachers, pastors, baristas,

58:07baristas, grocery store employees,

58:09parents deserve to live and thrive in

58:11Jacksonville. And we want to see

58:12Jacksonville thrive. So, we need to make

58:14those folks that make this city run

58:16thrive with us together. The line

58:18between housing security and crisis is

58:20often a lot finer than you'd think. And

58:22the affordable housing trust fund

58:24creates security, prevents harm, and

58:26builds a stable foundation where people

58:28and organizations in Jacksonville,

58:29Florida continue to win. Thank you.

58:32>> Thank you. Next, we have Laura Bayer

58:35Fston.

58:40Good afternoon and I thank you for this

58:42opportunity to be able to speak. Um I

58:45would implore you to restore the the

58:48money for affordable housing. Um I come

58:50to you on behalf of

58:51>> Your address, please.

58:52>> My address is on file.

58:53>> Thank you.

58:53>> I'm so sorry. Um as a teacher, a joyful

58:57teacher um with 30 years plus a master's

59:00degree. However, as when I became a

59:02single parent, um I spent well more than

59:0650% of my salary on on rent. Um I have

59:10now worked myself into a different

59:12situation by renting a room in in my

59:14home and taking on other duties.

59:16However, it does occur to me frequently

59:18that I could move somewhere else and

59:21have a better quality of life. But I

59:23love this community. I love

59:25Jacksonville. And I know the ability to

59:28recruit and retain um excellent teachers

59:32uh relies on affordable housing where

59:35teachers can live in the communities

59:37where they work. So please keep this in

59:39consideration as you move forward this

59:41evening. Thank you.

59:42>> Thank you, Mr. Jefferson.

59:46>> Brian Jefferson, name and address,

59:47please.

59:48>> My name is Brian Jefferson and my

59:50address is on file. Um, so at this point

59:54it's clear that you are all aware of the

59:56long-standing issues in our community

59:58and we have not seen any positive change

1:00:01surrounding them. It seems that this

1:00:03council is intent on ignoring them and

1:00:06pretending they don't exist. Um, we

1:00:08still see large swaths of the city have

1:00:10been historically neglected and I've

1:00:12come here to budget hearings for almost

1:00:1610 years at this point. Um, and it must

1:00:18be said that um, for the council to

1:00:20continue to ignore the growing cries for

1:00:22a people's budget is a disservice to

1:00:24their community members, their

1:00:26constituents, their voters. We are still

1:00:28in a housing crisis and instead of rent

1:00:30caps and houses relief, JSO's budget

1:00:33continues to go up, up.

1:00:36It seems like city's officials intend to

1:00:39arrest their way to a better

1:00:40Jacksonville. Despite the budget being

1:00:43over 600 million, our city is not any

1:00:46safer. The people's budget stands to

1:00:48provide relief and solutions for the

1:00:50city that JSO simply cannot do. We could

1:00:53put money towards programs that get

1:00:55people good union jobs, public mental

1:00:58health care, and after school programs

1:01:00for kids, as well as house um

1:01:01houselessness relief, and just simply

1:01:04fixing the roads. Um but the kicker is I

1:01:07wrote most of this speech two years ago,

1:01:09and the council is so stagnant that I

1:01:12did not have to replace most of it for

1:01:14this uh hearing today.

1:01:17And yet we continue to see more effort

1:01:20put into silencing community members

1:01:22than we do to hearing their concerns. We

1:01:25need to reallocate funding towards

1:01:27programs that will provide immediate

1:01:28relief to citizens suffering. We need a

1:01:30people's budget now. And lastly, um I

1:01:34would like to add that um Israel is an

1:01:37apartheid state and the US supported

1:01:40them for far too long. and I I stand in

1:01:43solidarity with the people of occupied

1:01:45Palestine and we have to stand up

1:01:48against Zionism and genocide in our own

1:01:50backyard. I want to see the money from

1:01:53our city being spent in our city rather

1:01:55than sent to a foreign entity. Thank

1:01:57you.

1:01:58>> Thank you. Next we have Sarah Yates

1:02:00Gibson.

1:02:02Miss Gibson,

1:02:04I'm gonna invite down to the front then

1:02:06please Amber. I believe it's Sky S C I R

1:02:09E on AB street Samantha series

1:02:14Sally Barnes

1:02:16Nancy Murray subtle and Marsha Collins

1:02:20name and address please

1:02:21>> Sarah Gibson address on file I'd like to

1:02:24echo the call for a people's budget I'm

1:02:27ashamed that JSO has a 287G agreement

1:02:31I'm ashamed that JSO is engaged in

1:02:34federal immigration enforcement

1:02:36activities ities in our community. Um,

1:02:40and I believe that the money instead of

1:02:42going to increase JSO's budget should go

1:02:45to the people in this city who need it

1:02:48most. The list of needs in this city is

1:02:51very long and JSO's budget is not on

1:02:55that list.

1:03:00I would furthermore like to say that

1:03:02earlier this year on my street

1:03:05uh a person had a mental health crisis.

1:03:08Their name was Keon

1:03:10and uh JSO showed up with no mental

1:03:14health professional and shot that person

1:03:18and then in the hospital kept them

1:03:20shackled to the hospital bed even though

1:03:23they were paralyzed.

1:03:25And so that is why I believe that JSO

1:03:29does not need an increase in their

1:03:30budget. I think that we need to give

1:03:33more money to mental health, not only

1:03:36crisis response team, but prevention of

1:03:41crisis in the first place. Thank you.

1:03:44>> Thank you. Next, we have Amber Sky. I

1:03:47believe it is

1:03:49Amber

1:03:51of Adam Street.

1:03:55CL are you miss?

1:03:58Go ahead.

1:03:59>> I'm Marca Collins. I'm here to ask the

1:04:03council to restore the $4.9 million

1:04:07to the budget for affordable housing.

1:04:10There are people suffering.

1:04:13I heard some testimony at the I Care

1:04:18Nehemiah assembly where people have to

1:04:22move in with their families because they

1:04:24can't afford housing. In Jacksonville,

1:04:27there was a teacher with a master's

1:04:30degree who was a single mom and she had

1:04:34to really hold tight to her budget and

1:04:38she could not give her kids the things

1:04:41that they wanted. So, please have a

1:04:45heart and restore that money to the

1:04:49budget. Thank you.

1:04:51>> Thank you, ma'am. Try one more time.

1:04:53Amber Skyire.

1:04:57Again, when I call your name earlier on,

1:04:58I'd like for you to come on to the front

1:05:00so I know you're here. Thank you. Go

1:05:01ahead. Name and address, please.

1:05:03>> Hi, my name is Amber Sky. Um, address on

1:05:06file.

1:05:06>> Thank you.

1:05:07>> Um, I'm here to talk about the 287G

1:05:09agreement, that it shouldn't be in this

1:05:11city, that JSO shouldn't receive more

1:05:14funds. We've seen what, three or four

1:05:17cases of

1:05:20abuse by JSO, people that are supposed

1:05:23to be trained

1:05:25to deescalate and yet we're wondering

1:05:28they're allowed to be at the same

1:05:29escalation as the people that they're

1:05:31visiting. That doesn't make any sense.

1:05:33Okay. Um,

1:05:37and correct with what pe previous people

1:05:40have said as far as allocating those

1:05:42resources to other areas in the city.

1:05:44Not only because of that, I mean, your

1:05:46car gets eaten if you're in San Marco

1:05:48and it's raining out. Um, but also

1:05:50because how in a world where we make the

1:05:54police also immigration enforcement,

1:05:57people that need the police and maybe

1:05:58haven't had paperwork aren't sure where

1:06:01they lie with being able to access the

1:06:04people that are supposed to protect and

1:06:05serve in this city. It feels like a

1:06:07no-brainer to me. Um

1:06:10to not have those be in the same force.

1:06:12But uh thank you for your time.

1:06:15>> Thank you. Next we have Samantha series.

1:06:22>> Samantha series address on file. So, as

1:06:25many people who spoke before me, I would

1:06:28like to, you know, reiterate that we

1:06:30should restore the budget for the

1:06:34affordable housing. However, if you do

1:06:36want to take 4.9 million out, JSO is

1:06:39right there. They have a lot of money in

1:06:42this city. So, if you're so keen on

1:06:46taking some money out of the budget, why

1:06:47don't you take it from the biggest piece

1:06:48of the pie instead of the sliver? You

1:06:51know, unfortunately, we have run into a

1:06:54lot of problems with affordable housing

1:06:57and it's hard to say that, you know, oh,

1:07:01this 4.9 million will help so much, but

1:07:04it will help people. There are different

1:07:07resources people do need in the city and

1:07:10unfortunately

1:07:12they need them because it is very

1:07:14expensive. I don't know if you guys have

1:07:17looked around the housing market, if

1:07:18you've seen the interest rate of 7%. No

1:07:21one's buying a house right now. But

1:07:22private equity is that we have a lot of

1:07:24private equity in our city. And that's

1:07:26probably a reason why it's so

1:07:28unaffordable. Unfortunately, we give

1:07:30these private equity companies, the

1:07:33initiatives, the tax relief, all the

1:07:36things that we should be giving to the

1:07:38people, we give it to them. And that's

1:07:40it kind of goes hand in hand because who

1:07:42else is going to take care of the

1:07:43different parts of the cities besides

1:07:45private equity because we don't have

1:07:47individual business owners anymore being

1:07:49able to invest into the city. It's

1:07:52difficult. It's not an easy problem that

1:07:54you guys are faced with. But it's

1:07:56something that we need to address. It's

1:07:58something that a lot of people are

1:08:00affected by because rent is so

1:08:03expensive. I mean, how many people have

1:08:05said before me they can't afford rent?

1:08:08That shouldn't be a common stance that

1:08:11everyone has to say when everyone works

1:08:14full-time jobs. It shouldn't be common.

1:08:17That should be something that, oh, a

1:08:19couple people are having this issue and

1:08:22we can help them with that affordable

1:08:24housing fund. We can help them with

1:08:26those resources.

1:08:28Many people mentioned JSO, you know, not

1:08:31really being helpful. And I would say

1:08:34shoot first, ask questions later isn't

1:08:36probably the best way we should be going

1:08:38about um different crisis in our city. I

1:08:41know we do have dangerous areas. I

1:08:43understand the police are under a lot of

1:08:45pressure. Um but maybe we should be

1:08:47training them a little more because if

1:08:50they're so riled up by someone that has

1:08:53a knife in their hand and they are not

1:08:55close enough in range of that knife, but

1:08:57they decide to shoot her first and then

1:08:59ask questions later. We don't even know

1:09:01what really happened behind closed

1:09:03doors. The person who calls 911 gets

1:09:06deference, but we don't know what was

1:09:08happening behind that closed door. So, I

1:09:11think that we need to look carefully at

1:09:13our budget and do things that make sense

1:09:16and help the city rather than just

1:09:19pushing up the police and bringing down

1:09:21everyone else.

1:09:23>> Next, we have Sally Barnes.

1:09:33Good afternoon. My name is Sally Barnes.

1:09:35My address is on file. I'm here for

1:09:37several reasons tonight. First of all,

1:09:39I've called city c I've called city

1:09:41council before and talked to you all

1:09:42about the ditch that's near my house. I

1:09:44called recently and reported trees that

1:09:46are falling and leaning. And I was told

1:09:49that if the treere's root is not showing

1:09:52and it's not old, they can't do anything

1:09:54about it. And that is not acceptable

1:09:57because there are rules governing storm

1:10:00water and they've broken them all. I

1:10:02brought this issue here before. But

1:10:04secondly, I have a question concerning

1:10:06Meridian Waste. Why are they getting

1:10:10four $4 million per year and sending it

1:10:13to North Carolina when we have all these

1:10:15issues here and it's funded with our tax

1:10:19revenue? I looked it up. Anybody want to

1:10:22look it up? Look up Meridian Waste.

1:10:24That's not right. It's not fair that we

1:10:28gonna pay for something that somebody we

1:10:30need. We have needs here and $4 million

1:10:33plus this this contract extends to 2033

1:10:38with raises on us, but we're not

1:10:41benefiting from it. Who made this

1:10:43decision?

1:10:45Where do we fit in this? We're not

1:10:46getting anything out of it. Nothing. So

1:10:49why is this? Do we supposed to fund

1:10:52everybody else and do without ourselves?

1:10:54It's not right. And I was at a meeting

1:10:57and talking about some city council

1:10:59people that look as if you're disturbing

1:11:02their peace. This person was looking

1:11:04around like this like, "Why are you

1:11:06bothering me?" And my question was, "Who

1:11:09are you supporting? The developer or

1:11:11your constituents?" They were pouring

1:11:13out their heart to this person. And this

1:11:16person was just looking around like this

1:11:17and doing all kind of stuff like you

1:11:19don't even exist. Why are you here

1:11:21wasting my time? But it's not their

1:11:23time. It's the constituent's time. And I

1:11:26want to know definitely about this

1:11:29garbage

1:11:31cuz it's clearly states that it comes

1:11:34from our tax revenue going to North

1:11:36Carolina. We got issues here. Who made

1:11:40this decision and why is it that we have

1:11:42to pay for it? Thank for your time.

1:11:44>> Thank you, ma'am. Next, we have Murray.

1:11:46I'm sorry, Nancy Murray Settle. In the

1:11:48meantime, I want to invite down to the

1:11:50front, please, Brian Leinsky, Katherine

1:11:53Makavoy,

1:11:54Addison Patrick, I believe it's Jay or

1:11:58Joy V on Hampton Landing, and Nicholas

1:12:02Petros, please come on down to the

1:12:04front.

1:12:11Nancy Murray Settle, addresses on file.

1:12:14Good evening. Um, the city council, as

1:12:17you know, is accountable to the people.

1:12:19And we've all been hearing the people

1:12:21say that we want a budget that serves

1:12:23our needs. We do want safe and healthy

1:12:26neighborhoods. That means funding the

1:12:28services that are basic to the human

1:12:31quality of life, such as affordable

1:12:34housing, affordable health care, and a

1:12:37living wage. Taxes should go to programs

1:12:40for affordable housing. And we

1:12:42desperately need a city council

1:12:47politicians who care about Duval workers

1:12:49and their ability to get into safe and

1:12:52decent housing. Restore the $4.9 million

1:12:57affordable housing line. Pass the

1:12:59amendments that restore funding

1:13:03to public service and cultural service

1:13:05grants. Public safety is a concern of

1:13:08life and it does need to be funded. But

1:13:11seriously, more than half of our budget

1:13:13is going to police and fire. A billion

1:13:15dollars. Honestly, that doesn't make us

1:13:18safe. It makes us foolish. What would

1:13:20make us safer is fully funded youth

1:13:22programs, access to mental health

1:13:24services, housing, jobs, and public

1:13:27service grants that fill in the the gaps

1:13:30for the emergency. In my home, I would

1:13:33never spend half of my assets and

1:13:36resources on weapons, fire and

1:13:38extinguishers, insurance, and then I

1:13:40wouldn't be able to afford the things

1:13:41that prevent tragedies. I couldn't

1:13:43afford locks on my doors. I couldn't

1:13:45afford to rewire the outdated electric

1:13:47circuit. If I can't afford to fix a

1:13:50broken water system because I spent all

1:13:52of my money on weapons, extinguishers,

1:13:54and insurance, that is absurdity. There

1:13:57are preventive things we can do in the

1:13:59city to make it safe, healthy, and

1:14:01increase the quality of life for all

1:14:02neighbors. Things like access to jobs,

1:14:05health care, education, parks, the

1:14:09libraries, the arts. It is shameful and

1:14:12embarrassing that as a human species, we

1:14:15put half of our resources into dealing

1:14:19with the consequences of a failed system

1:14:22rather than addressing the needs of the

1:14:25people who live here.

1:14:28I urge you to pass the floor amendments

1:14:30that restore the funding to the quality

1:14:32of life core services the city should be

1:14:35providing for to ourselves. We need

1:14:38politicians sitting on councils that

1:14:40have understanding of affordable

1:14:42housing, education, affordable health

1:14:44care, and a living wage that creates a

1:14:47safe and civil society.

1:14:50Um, restore the housing and the public

1:14:53service grants. And I can't believe I

1:14:55had to change my shirt, turn my shirt

1:14:57inside out. I mean, I'm looking in the

1:14:59rules. I don't see where I can't wear a

1:15:01shirt

1:15:03with someone's name on it. like I I just

1:15:06wanted to put that on record.

1:15:09>> Thank you, ma'am. Next, we have Brian

1:15:11Leinsky.

1:15:18>> Uh good evening. Uh my name is Brian

1:15:21Leinsky and my address is on file.

1:15:24Um good evening, council president, uh

1:15:27and members of the city council. Uh I am

1:15:29here tonight as a lifelong resident of

1:15:32Jacksonville.

1:15:33I love this city and because I have

1:15:36spent my life here, it breaks my heart

1:15:38to watch our neighborhoods become

1:15:40completely unaffordable for the

1:15:41hardworking people who keep Jacksonville

1:15:44running.

1:15:45That is why I'm standing here to voice

1:15:47my support for Councilman Carluchi's

1:15:49budget amendment to restore 4.9 million

1:15:53uh into Jacksonville's affording

1:15:55affordable house housing trust fund.

1:15:58When the finance committee stripped this

1:16:00critical piece of money from the

1:16:02proposed budget, they didn't just slash

1:16:05a number on a spreadsheet. They turned

1:16:07their backs on roughly 600 to 700

1:16:09Jacksonville families who desperately

1:16:12need down payment assistance or a stable

1:16:14place to live.

1:16:16We are told that 4.9 million is too much

1:16:19of a lift for our city's reserves.

1:16:22We're trying to, you know, tighten our

1:16:24belt. But let's look at what this city

1:16:26council does choose to afford.

1:16:29You know, when a certain developer comes

1:16:31to the city and asks to build a four

1:16:33seasons hotel,

1:16:35suddenly we have $130 million in

1:16:37incentives, including a $25.8 million

1:16:40cash completion grant.

1:16:44If Jacksonville can afford $130 million

1:16:46in public subsidies and tax breaks to

1:16:48help wealthy tourists sleep in a luxury

1:16:51riverfront hotel, we can absolutely

1:16:53afford $4.9 million to ensure that our

1:16:56nurses, teachers, and first responders

1:16:58have a home to sleep in. As Councilman

1:17:01Carluchi uh pointed out, we are not

1:17:03asking you to micromanage every single

1:17:05penny before this budget is finalized.

1:17:07We are asking you to preserve these

1:17:09dedicated dollars so the funding is

1:17:11ready and waiting when the mayor's

1:17:13office and council authorize these vital

1:17:15programs. It's been said that a budget

1:17:17is a moral document. Let's prioritize

1:17:20the people who actually live, work, and

1:17:22build their li lives in Duval County.

1:17:26Please vote yes on this amendment and

1:17:28reinstate the $4.9 million. Thank you.

1:17:32>> Thank you. Next, we have Katherryn

1:17:33Makavoy.

1:17:38Katherine Makavoy. My address is on

1:17:41record. Uh I'm here I've talked with a

1:17:44lot of you uh previously about the work

1:17:47we do at the performance academy. We

1:17:50serve underprivileged and at risk youth.

1:17:53Uh we work with about 500 youth

1:17:56throughout the year and use the arts as

1:17:58healing for kids that are in diversion

1:18:02or juvenile justice or in foster care or

1:18:05homeless.

1:18:08Uh we've had an incredible amount of

1:18:10success in being able to um

1:18:15keep the kids off the streets or get

1:18:17them out of juvenile justice, help them

1:18:19in the Deval detention center. um help

1:18:23them find ways to express themselves

1:18:25that they may not otherwise be able to

1:18:28do through the arts and through the

1:18:31programs that you have generously

1:18:33supported in so many different ways

1:18:35through the cultural council, through

1:18:37the kids hope alliance. I just want to

1:18:40thank you for the work that you all do

1:18:42in supporting our children and our youth

1:18:45because these kids need somewhere to go

1:18:47that is safe and keep them out of

1:18:49trouble. Uh if a child doesn't have

1:18:53sports as an opportunity, a lot of times

1:18:56they have no way out of the situation

1:18:58they're in and the arts is an

1:19:00opportunity for them to find healing,

1:19:03diversion, and a means of

1:19:04self-expression.

1:19:06So I don't envy the job that you all

1:19:09have in front of you. Affordable housing

1:19:11is important. The budget balancing is

1:19:14important. These are all critical

1:19:16things. but our youth are the future of

1:19:19uh Jacksonville and the investment that

1:19:22we make in them is critical. So I

1:19:25appreciate the work that you do and the

1:19:28support you give to the cultural council

1:19:30to kids hope alliance and to the funding

1:19:32of programs in the arts and I urge you

1:19:36to continue that um at 100% funding.

1:19:39Thank you very much. Thank you, Addison

1:19:42Patrick.

1:19:49>> Good evening, city council. My name is

1:19:51Addison Patrick and my address is on

1:19:53file. A municipal budget is not an

1:19:56abstract spreadsheet. It is an explicit

1:20:00statement of our community's priorities.

1:20:03This evening, as we debate floor

1:20:05amendments, we must decide whether we

1:20:07fund general genuine stability or

1:20:11continue pouring resources into other

1:20:13areas.

1:20:15Public safety begins with housing and

1:20:17mental health. I strongly support moving

1:20:20funds out of the public safety

1:20:22contingency and into our affordable

1:20:24housing special revenue fund,

1:20:26specifically the 4.9 million amendment

1:20:29for down payment and other assistance.

1:20:32The 500,000 reallocation for the United

1:20:35Way eviction diversion program provides

1:20:38immediate cost-effective relief to keep

1:20:41families rooted in Jacksonville.

1:20:43At the same time, we must re-evaluate

1:20:46how our public safety dollars are spent.

1:20:49Jacksonville taxpayers should not be

1:20:51bankrolling federal immigration

1:20:53enforcement or local crackdowns. Having

1:20:57ICE here wastes municipal resources and

1:21:00erodess trust. Those dollars belong in

1:21:03frontline community care, expanding

1:21:06psychiatric crisis intervention,

1:21:08community mental health case workers,

1:21:11and addiction recovery services that

1:21:13resolve crises before 911 is even

1:21:15called.

1:21:17Our discipline must reflect taxpayer

1:21:19reality. Sorry, we can't justify

1:21:22spending $500,000 on a city council

1:21:24office refresh while others are

1:21:27struggling to pay their mortgages and

1:21:29utility bills. And furthermore, while

1:21:32tea while tellaalth definitely has

1:21:34merits, when forced to choose between a

1:21:38$750,000

1:21:39virtual program and brickandmortar

1:21:42housing stability, tellaalth is simply a

1:21:44lower immediate priority.

1:21:47For once, let's try it this way.

1:21:52If it's a catastrophic failure, we can

1:21:55go back to the way that we were doing

1:21:56things, you know, before now. we can

1:21:59handle it differently. And then as for

1:22:02amendment three, let's vote no in

1:22:04November. Demand better of our

1:22:06legislature than a convoluted,

1:22:08discriminatory, hard to budget for piece

1:22:11of legislation. Let's stop passing these

1:22:14costs along to renters and small

1:22:15business owners. And in the meantime,

1:22:17Jacksonville can continue to look for uh

1:22:20effective ways to cut spending in areas

1:22:23that are not detrimental to the everyday

1:22:25citizens of Jacksonville. I implore you

1:22:27to consider everyone's comments tonight

1:22:31and the brevity that they have. Thank

1:22:33you for your time.

1:22:34>> Thank you. Next, we have I believe it's

1:22:36Jay or Joy V

1:22:39of Hampton Landing. Your name and

1:22:41address, please. I apologize.

1:22:42>> Yeah, my name is Joy Vio and um I do

1:22:45live on Hampton Landing Drive, 32256.

1:22:48I want to speak again in support of

1:22:51restoring the $4.9 million um uh fund

1:22:56housing initiatives in Jacksonville and

1:22:59in support of creation of a public

1:23:00private affordable housing trust fund

1:23:02here. The fastest growing population of

1:23:05firsttime

1:23:07homeless citizens nationwide are folks

1:23:1055 and older.

1:23:13My mother is a 98-year-old retired

1:23:16school teacher who receives not only

1:23:18social social security but a state

1:23:21pension as well. And yet she depends on

1:23:24me financially to stay in her home.

1:23:28We members of IARE have met with many of

1:23:30you about our dream for increased

1:23:32housing equity in Jacksonville for

1:23:35homeowners and renters. I want to

1:23:37applaud Councilman Carluchi, Matt

1:23:40Carluchi's championing this effort.

1:23:42Personally, I'd like to see our fund

1:23:46carry his name as a legacy tri tribute

1:23:49to his service to our city and his

1:23:52support of the most vulnerable in our

1:23:54community through this effort. Thank

1:23:56you, Councilman Carluchi. We really

1:23:59appreciate your support.

1:24:03>> Next, we have Nicholas Petro.

1:24:06In the meantime, I want to invite up to

1:24:08the front, please, Darren Daly, Monica

1:24:11Gold, Ryan Delaney, John Nun, and Kiana

1:24:15Bllelock. Go ahead, sir.

1:24:17>> My name is Nicholas Petros. My address

1:24:19is on file. Um, I'm coming here again,

1:24:22uh, as I did a couple weeks ago to

1:24:24discuss the Jacksonville Police, uh,

1:24:27Fire Pension Fund, uh, and its

1:24:29involvement, its investments in various

1:24:32Israeli companies, particularly the

1:24:34company that we call tea, right? This

1:24:36pharmaceuticals company. Uh, and the

1:24:39reasons why I'm concerned about this is

1:24:41the same as I said last two weeks ago,

1:24:43is that this company is a terrible

1:24:46investment. We're all here tonight to

1:24:48talk about the budget. We're quibbling

1:24:49over $5 million when our pension fund

1:24:53for our public employees, the people

1:24:55that keep us safe from fire and crime,

1:24:57is um really having a crisis as all of

1:24:59you of all of you really know this. I'm

1:25:01sure you know this very well. Um and so

1:25:03we need to invest that fund very wisely

1:25:06and in things that are improving the

1:25:08economy and making money for us,

1:25:10especially here in Jacksonville and in

1:25:13the United States. Why are we investing

1:25:15in countries that are uh in wars and

1:25:18doing crimes and not even having good

1:25:20economic growth when we could be doing

1:25:22it here? Um the second reason is that

1:25:25this company has been fueling uh the

1:25:28opioid crisis here in this country.

1:25:30There's been multiple uh lawsuits that

1:25:32tea has had to settle um and because it

1:25:36has been contributing to addiction. Uh,

1:25:39you know, a lot of us said last two

1:25:41weeks ago, my cousin and other people,

1:25:43many of us know people who have died

1:25:45from fentanyl or opium o opioid

1:25:47overdoses. It's really been a huge uh

1:25:50problem for people in our community uh

1:25:53across the country, but especially here

1:25:54in Jacksonville. My cousin was a Marine

1:25:56and it was a big loss to the country

1:25:58that uh we lost him. Um and the final

1:26:01reason is that tea is involved very

1:26:03heavily in the uh genocide and the

1:26:05ongoing war crimes in Gaza and the West

1:26:08Bank and Lebanon. Um we don't want our

1:26:12money to be involved in wars or in

1:26:14things going on uh in the Middle East

1:26:16that are criminal. We want our money to

1:26:18be put to good uses here in Jacksonville

1:26:20and in the country so that we can all be

1:26:22more prosperous so we can afford very

1:26:24nice things like affordable housing help

1:26:27and to afford to keep us all safe uh and

1:26:30do do even more with our budget. I know

1:26:32everyone here at city council um I think

1:26:35you would say to a lot of people here

1:26:36like, "Oh, we don't have the money for

1:26:37things." Well, if we have the money for

1:26:39things, then we could do a lot of great

1:26:41uh great work in the city. So, thank

1:26:42you.

1:26:43>> Thank you. Next, we have Darren

1:26:44Dailyaly.

1:26:51Darren Dailyaly, address on file.

1:26:54I serve as president, artistic director

1:26:56of the Jacksonville Children's Chorus.

1:26:58The Jacksonville Children's Chorus

1:27:00provides music education and performance

1:27:02opportunities for children across

1:27:04Northeast Florida. Last year, we served

1:27:07over 1500 participants through JCC

1:27:09programs and over 19,000 audience

1:27:12members. Our scholarships ensure a

1:27:14family's finances don't determine

1:27:16whether a child can participate,

1:27:18including the travel opportunities.

1:27:20JCC has been around for over 30 years.

1:27:23We have performed in 24 countries

1:27:26representing Jacksonville around the

1:27:28world. Recently, we performed in Italy

1:27:30and at the Vatican. We performed for

1:27:34Pope Leo I 14th and we were recognized

1:27:37on national and international news

1:27:39outlets.

1:27:41Organization and leadership have been

1:27:43recognized with awards from various

1:27:44national institutions including Chorus

1:27:46America, the telly Awards and multiple

1:27:49American Prize Awards.

1:27:52We are not simply an organization

1:27:54located in downtown Jacksonville. We are

1:27:57actively contributing to the cultural

1:27:59life and activation of downtown. In

1:28:01addition to serving our singers and

1:28:03families, we participate in downtown

1:28:05events, provide another venue rental

1:28:08option for the neighborhood, maintain

1:28:10Main Street and the sidewalk with music,

1:28:12videos, and artist performances. We

1:28:14bring children, families, audiences,

1:28:16activity into the urban core.

1:28:20A funding cut to the cultural council,

1:28:22what would mean for us is 20% and

1:28:25reducing our general operating funds.

1:28:28Significant reductions would eventually

1:28:30mean difficult choices around

1:28:31programming, staffing, scholarships, and

1:28:34affordability for families. We simply

1:28:37cannot absorb significant reductions

1:28:39indefinitely without affecting the

1:28:41children and the families we served.

1:28:44We respectfully ask the city council to

1:28:46secure 100% sustained funding for the

1:28:49cultural service program. This is an

1:28:52investment in Jacksonville's children,

1:28:54families, arts organizations, downtown

1:28:56culture, and quality of life. Sustained

1:29:00funding allows us to plan responsibly,

1:29:03retain staff, keep programs accessible,

1:29:06and continue serving Jacksonville. Thank

1:29:08you.

1:29:09>> Thank you. Next, we have Monica Gold.

1:29:24Hello, my name is Monica Gold and my

1:29:26address is on file. I'm here tonight to

1:29:29encourage city council to reimagine a

1:29:31flourishing city with residents who feel

1:29:33safe, seen, and cared for. In order for

1:29:36this sort of city to be a reality,

1:29:37people need to be prioritized in our

1:29:39budgetary decisions. This proposed

1:29:42budget allocates additional funding to

1:29:43JSO while slashing affordability for the

1:29:46public. We are joined this evening by

1:29:48mothers who have lost their sons at the

1:29:49hands of JSO's use of excessive and

1:29:51lethal force. We are joined this evening

1:29:54by countless people who understand pe

1:29:56people in mental health crisis need care

1:29:58from properly trained professionals. And

1:30:01I believe there are people sitting on

1:30:02this council who agree with the people

1:30:04speaking in opposition to JSO's

1:30:06additional funding. But year after year,

1:30:08they yield to the majority rather than

1:30:10standing with the p the people. I

1:30:13support the affordable housing efforts

1:30:15as I support all initiatives that

1:30:16demonstrate a proactive approach to

1:30:18community rather than a reactive

1:30:20approach to crime. Can I distribute

1:30:23these to the folks up here?

1:30:38All right, next we have Ryan Delaney.

1:30:46My name is Ryan Delaney. Address is on

1:30:48file. I'm here uh again today

1:30:50representing the Jacksonville Palestine

1:30:51Solidarity Network. Um, I first want to

1:30:54say that I want to echo support uh for a

1:30:58people's budget and I want to echo

1:31:00support uh for us reinvesting in

1:31:02affordable housing in this city. I think

1:31:04that's something extremely important

1:31:06that we keep Jacksonville affordable um

1:31:09in order for this city to thrive. Um,

1:31:11but I'm also here to once again talk

1:31:14about the police and fire pension fund

1:31:16and its investment uh in uh Israeli

1:31:19based bonds, particularly Teva

1:31:21Pharmaceuticals. Um, now uh a lot of

1:31:25people on this uh city council are very

1:31:27familiar with Jacksonville Palestine

1:31:29Solidarity Network. We've come here for

1:31:30a long time u with political demands

1:31:33around uh the plight of the Palestinian

1:31:35people. And some of you might support

1:31:37those demands, some of you might not. Uh

1:31:40what we're talking about here today

1:31:42however is a pharmaceutical company

1:31:45which uh supplies fentanyl into the

1:31:48United States. It is one of the largest

1:31:50suppliers of fentanyl in the United

1:31:52States. That company is uh in invested

1:31:57in by our police and fire pension fund.

1:32:00the police and fire first responders who

1:32:02themselves are on the front lines of

1:32:05dealing with the horrible ugly fentanyl

1:32:08crisis that the people of this city and

1:32:10cities all over the country have to deal

1:32:13with. And so my question to you all here

1:32:15today is do you feel that the the

1:32:19beneficiaries of that pension fund, our

1:32:22first responders feel comfortable

1:32:24knowing that their pension funds the

1:32:28crises that they are forced to respond

1:32:30to, some of the most dangerous crises

1:32:31that they have to respond to? And that

1:32:33on top of all that, that this is what

1:32:36financial experts describe as a junk

1:32:38bond. that the Teva pharmaceutical uh

1:32:41bonds are high risk, lowreward and that

1:32:45they are a fiduciary irresponsibility

1:32:47for us to continue to reinvest in. And

1:32:50so I am here to ask our city council to

1:32:53support our call for the police and fire

1:32:55pension fund to stop its investments in

1:32:58tea pharmaceuticals. It has an expiring

1:33:01investment on October 1st and we are

1:33:04asking for your support to call on the

1:33:06pension fund not to reinvest. This is

1:33:08good for Jacksonville. It's good for the

1:33:10pension fund. It's good for our budget.

1:33:13And it's good for the world. Thank you.

1:33:15Next, we have John Nun.

1:33:26>> All right. Hello. I am John

1:33:29Philanthropic

1:33:31Resiliency Good Boy Nun 8356 Baskam

1:33:35Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32216. some

1:33:38city council district 4, CPAC planning

1:33:40district 3, school board district three,

1:33:43you know, when it comes to the homeless,

1:33:44you know, I'll go back to uh the

1:33:47discussions, you know, with the jail,

1:33:49you know, you know, we got two big

1:33:52projects that are going in downtown, you

1:33:54know, just multi-million dollars, but

1:33:56you know what, that thing was set up for

1:33:58housing from day one. And so, just, you

1:34:02know, possibly relook at that. Um, you

1:34:06know, and as far as funding, you know,

1:34:08there's 27 million in the tree fund. You

1:34:11know, if you want, you know, with home,

1:34:13just double it. And, and let me just

1:34:15say, too, you you know, uh, you know,

1:34:18and I filled out a bunch of speaker

1:34:19cards, but, uh, you know, my big thing

1:34:22is the waterways

1:34:23and, you know, the in the waterways

1:34:25downtown. Now, here is our downtown

1:34:28Jacks map, you know, and right here,

1:34:31visitors 2025.

1:34:34Okay, you open it up. Look how big this

1:34:36thing is. But you don't have the kayak

1:34:39launch of McCoy's Creek. So, we got the

1:34:43new one. It's a lot littleler. And you

1:34:47know, here it is. 2026.

1:34:50And you open it up and you know, we got

1:34:53some stuff on on the agenda for this.

1:34:55Here's the C. It's not on here.

1:34:58So, we are marketing to the world and

1:35:01we're saying don't visit Jacksonville.

1:35:03Now, here's another thing I just want to

1:35:05bring to your attention. You know, and

1:35:07getting back, you know, you know, you

1:35:10know, with the homeless and everything

1:35:11else, you know, I'm going you I'm taking

1:35:14the show outside and just so everyone

1:35:18knows, I'm down to a minute. This is the

1:35:20Northeast Florida Regional Council. It's

1:35:21seven counties. There's 10 regional

1:35:23councils in the state of Florida. So,

1:35:26right now, you know, here's Klay County.

1:35:28Here's St. John's County. and you know,

1:35:31amendment three. So, all I can share

1:35:35with you is if you don't open up our

1:35:38waterways, and I hope you do because

1:35:40we're getting crushed. Got dozens of

1:35:44examples.

1:35:46And not only that, Pottsburgh Creek

1:35:49Public Park in District 4 is going to be

1:35:52one of the biggest cash cows,

1:35:55money generators

1:35:57for some community that will immediately

1:36:01benefit their every program that you

1:36:05could possibly think of. It's real. It's

1:36:08true. It's going to happen. Just down to

1:36:1115 seconds. But uh you know, wait until

1:36:16you get to these waterway things. But as

1:36:18far as the homeless, we got tons of you

1:36:20know what? Let's fix it. Thank you for

1:36:22listening.

1:36:23>> Next we have Kiana Bllelock.

1:36:27It's Bllelock.

1:36:33Name and address, please.

1:36:36>> Uh Kiana Bllelock. Address on file.

1:36:38>> Thank you. Um, I am here to show my

1:36:41support for the people's budget.

1:36:43Hopefully, um, after Gold put them on

1:36:46the desk that you actually look through

1:36:48them. Um, I am also echoing my support,

1:36:52uh, for the Jacksonville Palestine

1:36:53Solidarity Network and the folks who are

1:36:55also here um to cut some of the money

1:36:59allocated for public safety for their

1:37:02um, purposes for affordable housing. Um,

1:37:06I am tired of coming up here. I'm happy

1:37:10to be here because it seems like the

1:37:11consciousness of the people are growing

1:37:13to see that JSO, even though they ask

1:37:15for more and more money every single

1:37:17year, that they do not deserve it. Um,

1:37:19because of the countless crimes, because

1:37:22of the inappropriate relationships with

1:37:24minors, because of the um the scandal,

1:37:28of the overtime, right? These are not

1:37:30people who have shown that they deserve.

1:37:32It's almost like giving your child who

1:37:34is bad at school candy after they come

1:37:36home. Um it's it's laughable. Someone

1:37:38would call you a bad parent for doing

1:37:40that. So then also reflect on your uh

1:37:44brain or your career as a city city

1:37:46council member for doing that. Um

1:37:50I am tired of trying to figure out what

1:37:53is the most eloquent way for you all to

1:37:55listen to your constituents. I am tired

1:37:58of business as usual. I am tired of

1:38:01seeing that the police presence in this

1:38:03in these chambers grow. I'm tired of you

1:38:06all silencing community members instead

1:38:08of actually listening to community

1:38:09members. I I am tired. I am tired. Uh

1:38:14like the brother up here said a while

1:38:15ago that he is on his almost 10th year

1:38:18being here and it's the same concerns

1:38:20over and over again. I don't understand

1:38:22who I am talking to. Am I talking to

1:38:24city council members that when they see

1:38:26us uh protesting for Carmelo Anony's

1:38:29justice uh drives in their car and goes

1:38:31away? Am I talking to a city council

1:38:33member who at the same um demonstration

1:38:37saw us and then turned around and walked

1:38:39back where they were going? Am I talking

1:38:40to city council members who tried to

1:38:42little girl me outside and say, "I don't

1:38:44know who I'm talking to or who I'm

1:38:46talking about." I don't understand. I

1:38:48don't understand what I'm here for. I

1:38:49understand that I'm here for the people,

1:38:51which I will continue to be here for

1:38:53until my last dying breath. But

1:38:55honestly, I feel like I'm here more for

1:38:56them than for y'all, which is actually

1:38:58the work that I want to do. So again, I

1:39:00want to end with that I'm happy to see

1:39:02the consciousness of the people growing

1:39:04that they're starting to see your slip

1:39:06because your slip is showing and what

1:39:08you actually care about and who you're

1:39:09actually for. And it's for JSO and it's

1:39:11for your own pockets and not for these

1:39:13people who come here after work after

1:39:15they work long and hard for a housing

1:39:17market that is crashing for an economy

1:39:19that sucks to talk to you but you don't

1:39:21listen. Thank you

1:39:24Mr. President. We've got five people who

1:39:25do not wish to speak but have filled out

1:39:27a public comment card. Barry McMillan,

1:39:30affordable housing, basic need, shelter

1:39:33in addition to safety. Everyone deserves

1:39:35shelter. Manique Samson pass a people's

1:39:39budget now. Alec Statling Sterling

1:39:44reallocate funds from LPR budget to

1:39:46official community resources such as

1:39:48mental health's response. Delete

1:39:51archived LPR footage. Andrea Thomas,

1:39:54resend genocide, Jacksonville's

1:39:56resolution in favor of genocide. Quit

1:39:59287g agreement. established community

1:40:02control of genocide at the Jacksonville

1:40:04Sheriff's Office. Finally, uh, Casuana

1:40:07Martin, financial drain of at 287G,

1:40:11Jacksonville taxpayer deserve to know

1:40:13the full cost of this partnership before

1:40:16money is diver diverted from essential

1:40:18city services. Mr. President, that

1:40:20concludes our public comments portion.

1:40:21>> Were those your opinions or were you

1:40:23just reading from the card? Mr.

1:40:25>> Just kidding.

1:40:26>> Thank you.

1:40:26>> All right.

1:40:29the people's opinions. Thank you, Mr.

1:40:31President. It's now time for public

1:40:32hearings beginning on page 15. Council

1:40:35members should declare any exparte

1:40:37communications and in which anyone

1:40:39wishing to speak should have completed a

1:40:41blue speaker card. You will be allowed

1:40:43three minutes to speak. If you provided

1:40:46your address on the prescribed form, it

1:40:48doesn't you don't not and you don't wish

1:40:49to state it on the microphone, then you

1:40:51are permitted just to state that your

1:40:53address is on record. But we encourage

1:40:56you to be as specific as possible as to

1:40:58your location as it likely will impact

1:41:00the weight of your comments. Like public

1:41:02comment, assuming approval of the

1:41:04presiding officer, a speaker may be

1:41:06invited to the Johnson room for further

1:41:08discussions with a council member.

1:41:10Failure to complete a form provided

1:41:12including the provision of an address on

1:41:14the form will mean your name will not be

1:41:16called for public hearing. Mr. Teal,

1:41:20would you please read the bills? 2026

1:41:23558 644 657 658 659 660 688 697 698 699

1:41:32700 71 702 73 74 75 706 77 78 79 710 711

1:41:41712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721

1:41:50722 724 740 2026 126 127 523 524 631 632

1:41:59647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 and

1:42:07656

1:42:09>> Mr. President, I ask that you please

1:42:10open up these public hearings.

1:42:12>> These public hearings are open.

1:42:13>> Turn now to page 15. As I mentioned,

1:42:15item number 26, 2026 558. I have two

1:42:19speaker cards. Samantha series and Jamie

1:42:23Travis Leonard. Both opposed but do not

1:42:25wish to speak.

1:42:26>> This public hearings continue to October

1:42:2813, 2026.

1:42:29>> Item 27, 2026 644. I have no speaker

1:42:34cards.

1:42:34>> Public hearing is closed. An additional

1:42:36public hearing will be held on October

1:42:3813th, 26. Item number 28, 2026 657. I

1:42:41have two speaker cards, Ed T. Radliff

1:42:44and Steve Matchet. Mr. Radliff, would

1:42:47you please come down to the front?

1:42:49Followed by Mr. Matchet.

1:43:05>> Good afternoon, um, council members. My

1:43:07name is Ed Radloff. Name and address on

1:43:09file. I'm here uh speaking opposition of

1:43:13reszoning 1.05

1:43:16acres of land from a PUD ordinance

1:43:19217-139

1:43:22to a new PUD to allow for the sale of

1:43:25beer and wine. Uh this property dates

1:43:28back to 1996

1:43:30and Mr. Matchet who will follow will

1:43:32have a little bit more history, but

1:43:34basically this is a batting cage. uh

1:43:37that is located at the roundabout at

1:43:39Hartsfield and Fort Caroline Road. Uh

1:43:42this property has had multiple changes

1:43:46and basically has been uh nothing what

1:43:49it was meant to be. Uh the new owners

1:43:53have come in and now want to sell beer

1:43:56and wine to make it a more

1:43:57familyfriendly environment

1:44:00uh to host uh parties

1:44:03um sporting events and other um

1:44:08events. The problem with this is that

1:44:11this road or this uh facility is within

1:44:151500 ft of a school which the planning u

1:44:20committee uh overlooked and said they'd

1:44:22have an issue with that. Um this is a

1:44:25very uh dangerous road. If you look at

1:44:29this uh piece of property, there's 11

1:44:31parking spots on the property and

1:44:34they're looking to put about 174 seats

1:44:38on the property to host these events. Um

1:44:41there is no place to park. Um you're

1:44:44going to sit there and have adults

1:44:46coming in, drinking, and then driving

1:44:49young children home. It makes really no

1:44:51sense. Um, we are for smart development,

1:44:56common sense. And the problem is if you

1:44:59have this many parking spots, there's no

1:45:02place to park. And anybody that's

1:45:04familiar with that area knows that at

1:45:08least six times a year, a palm tree in

1:45:11that roundabout is knocked over because

1:45:13someone is intoxicated at night. So my

1:45:16recommendation coming here is to please

1:45:19deny this. On the other hand, we five of

1:45:22us showed up Thursday for the uh

1:45:26planning committee hearing and the

1:45:27sponsor of the bill did not show up. We

1:45:29were there for two and a half hours

1:45:31waited to speak on this and when it came

1:45:33up they're like we're going to have to

1:45:34table it. So I wonder how serious these

1:45:38folks are. We're here fighting to

1:45:42preserve our area and we're taking time

1:45:45out of our day. I ended up losing four

1:45:48hours of my workday to come down and

1:45:50then have to be told we have to come

1:45:51back. Thank you.

1:45:53>> Thank you, sir. Next, we have Steve

1:45:54Matchet.

1:45:58Mr. Matchet.

1:46:02>> Oh, there he is.

1:46:04Steve Matchet. Address on file. This

1:46:07ordinance is a pudto resoning request to

1:46:10expand an existing batting cage at the

1:46:13corner of Hartsfield and Fort Caroline

1:46:15roads with proposed food service, food

1:46:18trucks, and the sale of alcoholic

1:46:20beverages, which would also involve a

1:46:22liquor distance waiver from the school

1:46:24directly across the street. The original

1:46:27PUD was approved in 1996. I was the

1:46:30agent then for the property owner, Mr.

1:46:33Sam Mclofflin. I wrote the original PUD

1:46:36for the batting cage and advocated it

1:46:38for it before this body. The original

1:46:42PUD was unique in several ways. It began

1:46:45with the question how Mr. Mclofflin

1:46:48could realize his dream and passion as a

1:46:50coach to provide a baseball practice

1:46:53facility for the youth of Arlington

1:46:56while accounting for the legitimate

1:46:58concerns of surrounding neighbors who

1:47:00were fearing a commercial intrusion. I

1:47:03can answer that in one word. Covenant.

1:47:07The original PUD for Baseball Heaven was

1:47:09a covenant between the owner, the city,

1:47:12and the neighborhood that allowed the

1:47:14batting cage featuring Mr. Mclofflin's

1:47:16own inventions. He allowed the site to

1:47:18remain natural, preserved the many oaks

1:47:21that served as buffers. The majority of

1:47:23his parking was for bicycles, and his

1:47:26concession stand was just like the one

1:47:28you'd see at a little league ballpark.

1:47:31and a strict prohibition against any

1:47:34alcoholic beverages was expressly

1:47:36written into the PUD. That was part of

1:47:39the covenant. It was neighborhood size

1:47:41and scale and we reinforced that by also

1:47:44changing the land use to recreation and

1:47:46open space to further limit any

1:47:50commercial expansion. That was part of

1:47:52the covenant. This current proposal

1:47:55breaks that covenant. His proposed

1:47:58intensifications want to attract

1:48:00corporate gatherings and private

1:48:01celebrations in a size and scale that

1:48:04recasts them as the primary use and

1:48:07makes the once central batting cage an

1:48:10afterthought.

1:48:13Understanding the proposal like this

1:48:15would not allow it to legally exist in

1:48:17the recreation open space land use

1:48:19category and is hard to understand how

1:48:22the planning department could not

1:48:24recognize this inversion when it was so

1:48:27clearly laid out in the applicant's

1:48:29written description which devotes most

1:48:31of its language to the alcoholic

1:48:33beverage operation and the site plan

1:48:36which is void of any parking or

1:48:38landscaping accommodation for the

1:48:40proposed 172 2 outdoor seats, 99 of

1:48:45which are clustered around an outdoor

1:48:48bar on the extreme northwest corner of

1:48:50the property. The petitioner failed to

1:48:53show at last week's planning commission

1:48:55meeting, and that will result in more

1:48:57time. It should give the applicant in

1:48:59the planning department more time to

1:49:01explain why breaking a 30-year covenant

1:49:04is such a good thing. We think it's a

1:49:06sin.

1:49:06>> Thank you, sir.

1:49:07>> Thank you.

1:49:08>> I have no more speaker cards in 657.

1:49:10>> Public hearing is closed. Page 16, item

1:49:12number 29, 2026 658. I have no speaker

1:49:15cards.

1:49:15>> This public hearing is closed.

1:49:17>> Item number 30, 2026 659. I have two

1:49:20speaker cards, but neither wish to

1:49:22speak. John Nun wants to know how many

1:49:24units. And Paige Johnson does not wish

1:49:28to speak. Questions only.

1:49:30>> This public hearing is closed.

1:49:33>> Item number 31, 2026 660. I have no

1:49:37speaker cards.

1:49:38>> Public hearing is closed.

1:49:39>> Turning to page 17. And item number 32,

1:49:412026 688. I have no speaker cards.

1:49:45>> This public hearing is closed.

1:49:47>> Move the emergency.

1:49:48>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:49:50emergency. We'll take this vote

1:49:52verbally. No speakers in the queue. All

1:49:54in favor of the emergency indicate by

1:49:55saying I. I. All against say no.

1:49:57Emergency passes.

1:49:58>> Move the bill as an emergency.

1:50:00>> We have a motion and a second to move

1:50:01the bill as an emergency.

1:50:04No speakers. Let's open the ballot and

1:50:05court your vote.

1:50:23By your vote 2026 0688 passes.

1:50:26>> Item 33 2026 697. I have no speaker

1:50:30cards.

1:50:30>> Public hearings closed.

1:50:31>> Turning to page 18 item 34 2026 698. I

1:50:35have one speaker card. John Nun.

1:50:46>> Hello. Please stay on the bill as you

1:50:48speak in public hearings tonight. Thank

1:50:50you.

1:50:52>> All right. All right.

1:50:55All right. Let's see.

1:50:58Man,

1:51:01don't even start. That's okay. All

1:51:03right. I am John J. Nuni, Jacksonville,

1:51:08City Council Resolution 2023819.

1:51:11I'm in City Council District 4, CPAC

1:51:13Planning District 3, School Board,

1:51:15District 3.

1:51:17and uh the legislation 202698.

1:51:22Now we're appropriating 111,000

1:51:27dollars in fund balance from the

1:51:29environmental protection fund to provide

1:51:32funding for the 19th state of the river

1:51:34report for the lower St. John's River

1:51:36Basin. You know, we're just going to be

1:51:38waving a lot of stuff, you know, direct

1:51:40contract with JU for the project. But

1:51:43what I want to do is, you know, for

1:51:46those especially that are in attendance,

1:51:49just go back to agenda item 17, 2026

1:51:520670.

1:51:54And that was 103,000. That was the uh

1:51:57continuation of the manity protection

1:51:59plan, you know, neighborhoods financed,

1:52:01but you know, not in waterways. So, you

1:52:04know, a lot of this is, you know, he has

1:52:06me some double dip stuff. And you know

1:52:09again it's waterways

1:52:13you know it should be that is the most

1:52:16important

1:52:18you know commission and so anyway you

1:52:23know uh

1:52:25you know look at this you know again

1:52:27rules neighborhoods finance but this one

1:52:29did go to waterways

1:52:31but then you go back and look at agenda

1:52:34item 17 but the environmental protection

1:52:37board fund

1:52:38you know that thing I'll tell you there

1:52:40used to be millions in it. It's like a

1:52:42lot of these different funds you know

1:52:44when it gets up into the

1:52:48you know stratosphere if you will that's

1:52:51when you know you you really just change

1:52:53a lot of the rules and just have a

1:52:56freeforall with some of this. So anyway,

1:52:59I just wanted to be on the record, you

1:53:01know, uh just keep in mind Manity Public

1:53:05Park on Pottsburgh Creek, you know, in

1:53:08District 4, you know, uh we had, you

1:53:11know, manatees, baby manes in the

1:53:13backyard. So, all right. Thank you for

1:53:16listening.

1:53:17>> Have no more speaker cards on 698.

1:53:21>> Item,

1:53:21>> public hearing is closed.

1:53:23>> Item 35, 2026, 699. I have no speaker

1:53:26cards.

1:53:26>> This public hearing is closed. I move

1:53:28the emergency.

1:53:29>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:53:30emergency.

1:53:32>> Seeing no speakers in the queue, we'll

1:53:33vote on this verbally. All in favor of

1:53:35the emergency, indicate by saying I. I.

1:53:36All against say no. Emergency passes.

1:53:38>> Move the bill as an emergency.

1:53:40>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:53:41bill as an emergency. No speakers. Let's

1:53:44open the ball and record your vote.

1:53:51>> 17 yays, one nay. And by your vote 2026

1:53:540699 passes.

1:53:57Turn

1:53:57>> to page 19, items 36 and 37, 700 and

1:54:01701. I have no speaker cards.

1:54:04>> This public hearing is closed.

1:54:06>> Item number 38, 2026, 702. I have no

1:54:09speaker cards.

1:54:10>> This public hearing is closed.

1:54:11>> Item number 39, 703. I have no speaker

1:54:14cards.

1:54:15>> This public hearing is closed.

1:54:16>> I move the emergency.

1:54:19We have a motion and a second on the

1:54:21emergency for 2026 0703. We didn't skip

1:54:24a public hearing there, did we? We were

1:54:26going so fast.

1:54:27>> Okay. Um, we have a motion second on the

1:54:30emergency for 2026 0703. No speakers,

1:54:33let's take this vote verbally. All in

1:54:35favor indicate by saying I. I. All

1:54:36against saying no. Emergency passes.

1:54:38>> Move the amendment.

1:54:39>> We we have a motion and a second on the

1:54:42amendment. No speakers take the vote

1:54:44verbally. All in favor of the amendment

1:54:46indicate by saying I. I all against say

1:54:48no. Amendment passes.

1:54:50>> Move the bill as an emergency as

1:54:51amended.

1:54:52>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:54:54bill as an emergency as amended. Seeing

1:54:56no speakers, let's open the ballot and

1:54:58record your vote.

1:55:06>> 18 yays, zero nays.

1:55:08>> By your vote, 2026 0703 passes.

1:55:12>> Turn to page 21. Items 40, 41, 42, 43,

1:55:15704, 705, 706, and 707. I have no

1:55:19speaker cards.

1:55:20>> These public hearings are closed.

1:55:21>> Page 22, item 44, 2026, 708. I have one

1:55:25speaker card. John Nun.

1:55:36>> Hello.

1:55:37Uh, I am John J. Nuni Jacksonville City

1:55:40Council resolution 2023819.

1:55:44Um I thought I marked on there didn't

1:55:47wish to speak but uh

1:55:50anyway this is an ordinance for 250,000

1:55:54from the CIP debt service repayment. Now

1:55:58uh

1:55:59>> now this is with parks. Okay. Blue

1:56:01Cyprus. Yeah. The golf course, you know,

1:56:04tee it up. I mean I'm ready. you know,

1:56:06it's uh you know, let let's get a

1:56:09scramble going. Um but

1:56:14yeah, this this you know uh uh blue

1:56:18Yeah, oversight by the parks department

1:56:21and uh no, I just support the

1:56:23legislation and uh this want to be I'm

1:56:28really on the record for that one. All

1:56:29right. Thank you.

1:56:30>> I have no more speaker cards.

1:56:32>> Public hearing is closed.

1:56:35I move the emergency.

1:56:36>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:56:38emergency. No speakers in the queue.

1:56:40Let's take this vote verbally. All in

1:56:41favor of the emergency indicate by

1:56:42saying I. I. All against saying no.

1:56:44Emergency passes.

1:56:46>> I move uh the bill as an emergency.

1:56:48>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:56:50bill as an emergency. No speakers. Let's

1:56:52open the ballot and record your vote.

1:57:0318 yays, zero nays.

1:57:06>> By your vote, 2026 0708 passes.

1:57:09>> Moving on now to number 45, 202679,

1:57:13Mr. Nuni, who does wish to speak on this

1:57:16one.

1:57:21>> Hello, I am John J. Noning Jacksonville

1:57:24City Council resolution 2023 0819

1:57:28when city council district 4 CPAC

1:57:30planning district 3 school board

1:57:31district 3. Yeah, this this one you know

1:57:34the public trust you know just been

1:57:36absolutely crushed. I'll always remember

1:57:40and I still have been going to an ethics

1:57:42commission meeting and I'll ask you we

1:57:44have six seat packs representing the

1:57:47entire city of Jacksonville. You have

1:57:49the mayor's disability council.

1:57:52You know, the the wheelchair gang, the

1:57:55Council on Elder Affairs, senior

1:57:57citizens.

1:57:59Why is OGC the Office of General

1:58:03Counsel?

1:58:03>> Yeah, you're not on the bill, Mr.

1:58:05Please.

1:58:05>> Well, it it is it's procedures, you

1:58:08know, we're amending, you know, the So,

1:58:10right now what we're doing is you you

1:58:12know, we're looking for, you know, to

1:58:14have a quorum for a standing committee.

1:58:16And you know, um, again, you know, hey,

1:58:21at least we're attempting and trying to

1:58:22do something right now, but, uh, but but

1:58:27as far as you and you can offer

1:58:29amendments, but bring back 2017 160

1:58:33public participation,

1:58:35you know, that is what really triggered

1:58:38a lot of the collapse of what has

1:58:40happened, you know, through the

1:58:42legislative committee process.

1:58:44>> Mr. Nun, you're not on the bill. please.

1:58:46>> Okay. Well, uh, relating the council

1:58:50rules, I I mean, this is part of the the

1:58:52history and, uh, just wanted to get it

1:58:56on there and, uh, uh, I hope when it

1:58:59goes through,

1:59:01bring I listen,

1:59:04>> we got a

1:59:05>> big agenda ahead of us.

1:59:06>> I I know you do. Bring back 2017 160 as

1:59:09an amendment. Thank you.

1:59:10>> I have no more speaker cards in 709.

1:59:12>> All right, this public hearing is

1:59:13closed. Item 46, 2026710.

1:59:17I have no speaker cards.

1:59:19>> This public hearing is closed.

1:59:20>> Move the emergency.

1:59:21>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:59:22emergency. No speakers in the queue will

1:59:24vote verbally. All in favor of the

1:59:25emergency indicate by saying I.

1:59:27>> I. All against say no. Emergency passes.

1:59:30>> Move the amendment.

1:59:31>> We have a motion and a second on the

1:59:33amendment. We'll also vote verbally. All

1:59:34in favor of the amendment indicate by

1:59:35saying I. I. All against saying no.

1:59:37Amendment passes.

1:59:39>> I move the bill as an emergency as

1:59:41amended. We have a motion and a second

1:59:43to move the bill as an emergency as

1:59:46amended. No one in the queue. Let's open

1:59:48the ballot and record your vote.

1:59:57>> 18 zero nays.

1:59:59>> Buy your vote 2026 0710 passes. Turn

2:00:02>> to page 23. Item number 47 2026 711. One

2:00:06speaker card. John Nuni.

2:00:14Hello, I am John J. Nuni, Jacksonville

2:00:18City Council Resolution 2023 0819. I'm

2:00:21in City Council District 4C, CPAC 3,

2:00:23School Board District 3. And this is a

2:00:26FEMA house, you know, and um you know

2:00:30what, uh everybody should just remember,

2:00:34you know, uh and I'm next to one, but uh

2:00:37back in the day, you know, uh these

2:00:40would go to waterways. This is a

2:00:42neighborhoods financed, but not in

2:00:43waterways.

2:00:45So, uh, just remember, you know, we had

2:00:47Steve Witter, Todd Smith, Andre, now we

2:00:50have Noah Oay, and this FEMA stuff used

2:00:54to be over the environmental quality

2:00:56division, then it got transferred out.

2:00:58So, anyway, you know, uh, as far as the

2:01:02legislation, I just wanted to be, you

2:01:04know, on the record. We're next to one.

2:01:07It's still real. Still can happen. And

2:01:10go out and do site inspections. I mean

2:01:12there is an unbelievable list of this

2:01:14stuff. So uh anyway u it can still be

2:01:19sent to waterways and you know kind of

2:01:21bring back the good old days. All right.

2:01:23Thank you for listening.

2:01:24>> No more speaker cards in 7-Eleven.

2:01:27>> Public hearing is closed.

2:01:28>> Move the emergency.

2:01:29>> We have a motion a second on the

2:01:30emergency. No speakers. Will vote

2:01:32verbally. All in favor of the emergency

2:01:33indicate by saying I. I. All against

2:01:35saying no. Emergency passes.

2:01:36>> Move the amendment.

2:01:37>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:01:39amendment. Seeing no speakers. We'll

2:01:41vote verbally. All in favor indicate by

2:01:42saying I. I. All against say no.

2:01:45Amendment passes.

2:01:46>> Move the bill as an emergency as

2:01:47amended.

2:01:48>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:01:50bill as an emergency as amended. There

2:01:52are no speakers in the queue. Let's open

2:01:53the ballot and p your vote.

2:02:07>> 17 y zero nays. And by your vote 2026

2:02:100711 passes.

2:02:12>> Item 48 2026 712. I have no speaker

2:02:15cards. This

2:02:16>> public hearing is closed.

2:02:17>> The emergency.

2:02:18>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:02:19emergency. We'll take the vote verbally.

2:02:21All in favor of the emergency indicate

2:02:22by saying I. I. All against saying no.

2:02:25>> Move the bill as an emergency.

2:02:26>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:02:28bill as an emergency. Again, we're on

2:02:30item 48, 2026 0712. Please open the

2:02:34ballot and record your vote.

2:02:39Oh, thank you.

2:02:40>> 18 yay, zero nays.

2:02:42>> By your vote 2026 0712 passes.

2:02:45>> Item number 49, 2026 713. I want speaker

2:02:48card. John Nun does not wish to speak.

2:02:50However, he opposes the bill.

2:02:52>> This public hearing is closed.

2:02:53>> Move the emergency.

2:02:54>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:02:56emergency. I'll give anyone an

2:02:57opportunity to get on the queue. There

2:02:59are none. Let's vote verbally. All in

2:03:00favor of the emergency indicate by

2:03:02saying I. I. All against say no.

2:03:04Emergency passes.

2:03:06Move the bill as an emergency.

2:03:08>> We have a motion, a second on the bill

2:03:09as an emergency. I'll recognize Mr.

2:03:11Diamond, who um let the record note

2:03:13recorded no on the emergency.

2:03:15>> I did. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Mr.

2:03:17President, uh I'm voting no on this.

2:03:18Just so everybody knows, it's only

2:03:20$25,000, but they want to spend $25,000

2:03:23on a museum to the Jacksonville City

2:03:24Council.

2:03:26And I guarantee you in this next

2:03:29election, anybody who votes for this is

2:03:30going to find in their neighbors

2:03:32mailboxes they spent your money on a

2:03:34Jacksonville City Council museum. It's

2:03:37ridiculous. It is a museum to

2:03:39corruption, uselessness, and ego. I am

2:03:42proud to vote no. I encourage my

2:03:44colleagues to vote no. I understand the

2:03:47nature of this, but it's just completely

2:03:49ridiculous and tonedeaf to the people.

2:03:52>> There are two more speakers, Mr.

2:03:54Carluchi, followed by Dr. Johnson.

2:04:00>> I implore my colleagues to ignore such

2:04:04rhetoric and such an in such a

2:04:09in such an insult to the city of

2:04:11Jacksonville.

2:04:13Um, you can call this a museum to the

2:04:16city council. That's not what this is,

2:04:19Councilman Diamond. This is a museum to

2:04:23the wonderful history of a city that has

2:04:25overcome great obstacles along the way

2:04:28to where we are now. That's what it is.

2:04:32I'm not building a museum to myself. I

2:04:35don't want a museum to myself and I sure

2:04:37don't want one to some of the members of

2:04:40council that have disgraced certain

2:04:42times uh the great city of

2:04:44Jacksonville's reputation.

2:04:47But I do want a museum that

2:04:51talks about the great history of some of

2:04:54our great city council members members

2:04:56who have helped move this city forward

2:04:58to what we are today. who have built

2:05:01this city through the challenges of a

2:05:03great fire,

2:05:06who have helped overcome the great

2:05:09challenges of civil rights to this city,

2:05:13who have helped overcome the

2:05:16preconolidation challenges that like to

2:05:19disrupt and disgrace this city and

2:05:23turned our St. John's River into a

2:05:25flowing cesspool. as was noted by World

2:05:28News Report the magazine back in the 60s

2:05:33and the city council who brought an NFL

2:05:36team to Jacksonville.

2:05:39And so that the kids that come with

2:05:42tours through city council and through

2:05:45this chamber can walk right through that

2:05:47hall and into the large hallway into a

2:05:51room that has been sitting vacant for

2:05:54years. and they could look at the

2:05:56minutes in the beautiful handwritten

2:05:58minutes that were done uh back in the

2:06:011900s and late 1800s that were so

2:06:04beautifully written with cursive which

2:06:06these kids don't even get classes on as

2:06:09I understand it uh to how write cursive.

2:06:15This is not a this is not a self-serving

2:06:18uh museum. Uh

2:06:22uh what we just listened to was a bunch

2:06:25of political rhetoric

2:06:29that um jins up people's emotions

2:06:32because people generally don't like city

2:06:34council members. I get it. I've been

2:06:37doing this far longer than you have,

2:06:40sir.

2:06:41So, yeah, you can do that all you want

2:06:43to, but I know politics. I have

2:06:45forgotten more about politics than

2:06:47you've ever known. So, I get it.

2:06:50I'm just telling you that this city has

2:06:53a lot to be proud of and what has driven

2:06:55this city has been its people and this

2:06:58museum will talk about our people. Let

2:07:00me finish please.

2:07:01>> We're honoring three minutes tonight.

2:07:02>> Well, first you can get on the queue for

2:07:04another

2:07:05>> one thing if you would indulge me.

2:07:07>> This You got 30 seconds.

2:07:08>> Thank you. I appreciate that.

2:07:11>> This city has been driven by its people,

2:07:14but it has also been driven by its

2:07:16government. And this is a civics lesson

2:07:19for the high school and the middle

2:07:20school and the elementary kids,

2:07:22elementary school kids that come through

2:07:24here. And I think learning about civics

2:07:26is a good damn thing.

2:07:29>> Please watch your language, Mr.

2:07:30Carluchi. Dr. Johnson, followed by Mr.

2:07:32Lane and followed by Mr.

2:07:34>> Thank you so much, Mr. President. I rise

2:07:36to um support uh Councilman Carluchi.

2:07:39This was uh and brought about in the

2:07:41finance committee and the committee

2:07:43supported Councilman Carluchi's

2:07:45inclusion of this. It's a very small

2:07:47amount, but when I think about being

2:07:49here today and I look at that wall in

2:07:51the back and all of those members of

2:07:53city council and I think about the Henry

2:07:55Cooks and the Warren Joneses and the

2:07:58Tilly Fowlers and the Alberta Hipses, I

2:08:00could go on and on and name the names.

2:08:02I'm so honored to sit in this seat, but

2:08:04what is important is that we remember

2:08:05history because it's been said over and

2:08:08over again. I think Winston Churchill

2:08:09even mentioned it in a great speech that

2:08:11those who do not understand and remember

2:08:13history are doomed to repeat it. I do

2:08:15think as Councilman Carluchi said that

2:08:17just across that hall in this museum

2:08:19unfortunately uh I do understand that it

2:08:22is important that we interpret the

2:08:24information that is there and it clearly

2:08:26says this is not a museum for city

2:08:27council it's museum for city hall which

2:08:30preserves the history and posterity of

2:08:31this city. So I'm honored to vote for

2:08:33this. Thank you, Council Member

2:08:34Carluchi, for putting this forward and I

2:08:36will certainly be supporting it and I

2:08:38hope, colleagues, that we can remember

2:08:40our city by supporting this small

2:08:43investment in allowing our city to see

2:08:45itself in the best light. Thank you.

2:08:47>> Thank you, Dr. Johnson. Over to Mr.

2:08:48Lannon.

2:08:49>> Hey, Mr. President. Just to remind my

2:08:50colleagues of the history of this bill,

2:08:53uh, Council Mayor Carichi brought this

2:08:54up on wrap-up day, and I said looking at

2:08:57all the other requests that were out

2:08:58there, we were not going to build it

2:09:00into the budget. I said if you could

2:09:01find a alternative funding source I

2:09:03would support it. He did that. He's

2:09:05using the council contingency which does

2:09:07expire this week. So with that

2:09:09identified funding source and only

2:09:11because of that reason I will support it

2:09:13because I said if he found an

2:09:14alternative funding source for this I

2:09:15would.

2:09:17>> All right. There are no other speakers

2:09:19in the queue. I think uh right now we're

2:09:21in the posture where we have a the

2:09:23motion on the bill as an emergency.

2:09:25Let's open the ballot and vote.

2:09:3516 yays, three nays.

2:09:37>> By your vote 2026 0713 passes.

2:09:40>> Turning to page number 24, item number

2:09:4350, 20 2016 2026 714. I have one speaker

2:09:48card, John Nun.

2:09:57Hello, I am John J. Nun Jacksonville

2:10:00City Council resolution 2023819

2:10:04when city council district 4 CPAC

2:10:06planning district 3 and school board

2:10:10district 3. Now here we're going to

2:10:13appropriate 717,000

2:10:17you know the riverfront

2:10:19parks and you know we got the DVI

2:10:23and as I just shared with everybody

2:10:26during public comment you know downtown

2:10:29vision you know here I was going to them

2:10:31and just so you all know you can pick

2:10:33this stuff up but here's the 2025 map

2:10:37and you look at it and here it is uh the

2:10:41kayak launch on McCoy's Creek, you know,

2:10:43with the Emerald Trail stuff. It's not

2:10:45on here. So, now we've got the new map,

2:10:49you know, 2026

2:10:52and you know, it's a smaller one. Same

2:10:56thing. Kayak launch,

2:11:00it's not on here. So, here now we want

2:11:04to just, you know, promote and and spend

2:11:08all this money. The key really in my

2:11:11opinion is wait until everything's built

2:11:14before we create these not forprofits

2:11:17and just hand out salaries. I mean just

2:11:20read through this. I'm just down to a

2:11:22minute 30. And what you have to remember

2:11:26and and everybody in this city

2:11:29is you've got 14 council districts,

2:11:34five at large. You got your CRAAS, DAS,

2:11:39uh all your different over overlay

2:11:42zoning districts. So what we have 2014

2:11:45560 is the legislation that created the

2:11:48downtown area, you know, from the Fuller

2:11:50Warren to the Matthews Bridge. So

2:11:52anyway, this is a piece of legislation.

2:11:55I mean, is it really necessary? I would

2:11:57say no. you know, you can just put it

2:12:01below the line or just, you know, just

2:12:03say, "Hey, wait until we have all these

2:12:06waterfront activation things that are

2:12:08really going to be taking place." So,

2:12:12anyway, just wanted to share that. Uh,

2:12:15thank you for listening.

2:12:17Have

2:12:17>> no more speaker cards in 7:14.

2:12:19>> This public hearing is closed.

2:12:20>> I move the emergency.

2:12:22>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:12:23emergency. No speakers in the queue.

2:12:25We'll take the vote for the emergency

2:12:26verbally. All in favor indicate by

2:12:27saying I. I. All against say no.

2:12:30Emergency passes.

2:12:30>> Move the amendment. Second.

2:12:32>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:12:33amendment. We'll also vote verbally. All

2:12:35in favor of the amendment. Indicate by

2:12:36saying I. I. All against say no.

2:12:39Amendment passes.

2:12:40>> Move the bill as an emergency as

2:12:41amended.

2:12:43>> We have a motion and second to move the

2:12:44bill as an emergency as amended.

2:12:46>> There are no speakers. Let's open the

2:12:48ballot court.

2:13:0118 yays, one nay.

2:13:02>> By your vote 2026 0714 passes.

2:13:05>> Item 51, 2026 715. I have one speaker

2:13:09car. Jamie Travis Leonard does not wish

2:13:11to speak but supports the bill.

2:13:13>> This public hearing is closed.

2:13:15>> I move the emergency.

2:13:16>> We have a motion and second on the

2:13:17emergency. All in favor of the emergency

2:13:19indicate by saying I. I. All against

2:13:21saying no. Emergency passes.

2:13:22>> Move the amendment.

2:13:23>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:13:25amendment. All in favor of the amendment

2:13:26indicate by saying I. I. All against

2:13:28saying no. Amendment passes.

2:13:30>> Move the bill as an emergency as

2:13:31amended.

2:13:32>> We have a motion and a second to move

2:13:34the bill as an emergency as amended.

2:13:36There are no speakers. Open the ballot

2:13:38and record your vote.

2:13:5119 y zero nays

2:13:53>> by your vote 2026 0715 passes

2:13:56>> item 52 2026 716 I have one speaker card

2:13:59Jamie Travis Leonard she supports the

2:14:01bill but does not wish to speak

2:14:03>> this public hearing is closed.

2:14:04>> I move the emergency.

2:14:05>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:14:08emergency. All in favor indicate by

2:14:10saying I. I. All against say no.

2:14:12Emergency passes. Move the uh I move the

2:14:16bill as an as as an emergency. Thank

2:14:19you.

2:14:19>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:14:21bill as an emergency.

2:14:22>> Given speakers a minute here. Seeing

2:14:25none, let's open the ballot court to

2:14:26vote.

2:14:37>> 19 ys.

2:14:39>> By your vote 2026 0716 passes.

2:14:41>> Turn to page 25. Item number 53, 2026

2:14:44717. I have two speaker cards. Jamie

2:14:46Travis Leonard does not wish to speak

2:14:48but supports the bill and John Nun.

2:14:57Hello, I am John J. Nun. Name and

2:15:00address is also on file with the motion

2:15:03picture industry. Um, you know, this

2:15:07piece of legislation, it's a carryover

2:15:09400 grand originally appropriated by

2:15:112025 720E

2:15:14and so the funds will be remaining with

2:15:16the Office of Economic Development.

2:15:18That's the film and television center

2:15:20for project T. I'm in I mean, we've got

2:15:25OED, the Office of Economic Development.

2:15:27You got Ed Rambo, Randolph, Todd, Red

2:15:30Carpet, Ruben. I mean, this is big

2:15:33stuff. And you know, I'm wearing my boat

2:15:35ramp Billy shirt. You know, that's St.

2:15:38John's County. You know, get, you know,

2:15:40they're be doing a movie with him. So,

2:15:42no, as far as uh you know, bringing uh

2:15:45the motion pictures and documentaries

2:15:48and anything associated with film, you

2:15:51know, it this is positive. Very, very

2:15:54positive. So, uh I'm in. Thank you for

2:15:57listening.

2:16:00>> I have no more speaker cards for 717.

2:16:03This public hearing is closed.

2:16:04>> I move the emergency.

2:16:06>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:16:08emergency. No speakers. Let's vote

2:16:10verbally. All in favor indicate by

2:16:11saying I. I. All against say no.

2:16:14>> Uh let the record show. Mr. Diamond

2:16:16voted no. The emergency passes.

2:16:18>> I move the bill as an emergency.

2:16:20>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:16:21bill as an emergency. There are no

2:16:23speakers. Open the ball to vote.

2:16:3517 yays, two nays.

2:16:37>> By your vote, 2026 0717 passes.

2:16:40>> Item number 15.

2:16:41>> Did Mr. Diamond press his button?

2:16:46>> 2026718.

2:16:47I uh have two speaker cards. Uh John Nun

2:16:52wishes to speak to this bill. In the

2:16:54meantime, Miss Money, come on up. Uh, in

2:16:57the meantime, uh, Jamie Travis Leonard

2:16:59does not wish to speak, but she supports

2:17:01718.

2:17:03>> Hello, my name is John J. Nun,

2:17:06Jacksonville City Council resolution

2:17:082023819

2:17:11and uh, name and address is also on file

2:17:14with the motion picture industry. And

2:17:16uh, no, this is again, you know, this is

2:17:19awesome stuff. This is OED, the office

2:17:23of economic development, film and

2:17:24television. Todd, Red Carpet, Ruben, let

2:17:27me just say that astronaut Howland, you

2:17:29know, you're the council lays on for

2:17:31this for this and uh man, it's it's just

2:17:36good stuff. I mean, you know, we're

2:17:38going to it's it's very good. So, uh uh

2:17:43I support it. Thank you for listening.

2:17:47>> All right. Thank you, sir.

2:17:48>> Have no more speaker cards than 7:18.

2:17:50>> Sparing's closed.

2:17:52>> I move the emergency. We have a motion

2:17:54and a second on the emergency. No

2:17:55speakers. Let's vote verbally. All in

2:17:57favor indicate by saying I. I. All

2:17:59against saying no emergency passes.

2:18:00>> Move the bill as an emergency.

2:18:01>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:18:03bill as an emergency. No speakers. Open

2:18:05the ballot court to vote.

2:18:15>> 17. Two nays.

2:18:18>> By your vote 2026 0718 passes.

2:18:22Moving on now to page 26. Item number

2:18:2455, 2026 719. I have no speaker cards.

2:18:29>> This public hearing is closed.

2:18:30>> I move the emergency.

2:18:31>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:18:32emergency. All in favor indicate by

2:18:34saying I. I. All against say no.

2:18:37Emergency passes.

2:18:38>> Move the bill as an emergency.

2:18:39>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:18:41bill as an emergency. There are no

2:18:42speakers. Let's open the ballot and

2:18:43record your vote.

2:18:5218 yays, one nay.

2:18:54>> By your vote 2026 or 719 passes 56 2020

2:18:582026 720 I have one speaker car John

2:19:02Nun.

2:19:10>> Hello. I am John J. Nuni Jacksonville

2:19:13City Council Resolution 2023819.

2:19:16Dynaman City Council District 4, CPAC

2:19:18Planning District 3, Schoolboard

2:19:20District 3. Now, this uh is um we're

2:19:25going to be executing and delivering on

2:19:27behalf of the city intergovernmental

2:19:29cooperative

2:19:31agreement with the St. John's River

2:19:32Water Management District.

2:19:35And you know, uh but here's the thing.

2:19:38Neighborhoods,

2:19:40TEU F, but not in waterways. I mean,

2:19:43where's Doug Cony? you know, it's uh you

2:19:47know, this again are examples where you

2:19:51know uh it should be and it still can be

2:19:56you know sent to waterways. I just

2:19:58wanted to have that on the record.

2:20:02I have no more speaker cards.

2:20:04>> Public hearing is closed.

2:20:05>> Move the bill as 720. There's no

2:20:08movement on this one. Moving on now to

2:20:10page 5 27. Item number 57. 2026721.

2:20:14Guess what? I have one speaker card.

2:20:16You'll never guess who. John Nun.

2:20:25>> Hello. I am John J. Nuni. Jacksonville

2:20:28City Council Resolution 2023 0819.

2:20:32City Council District 4, CPAC Planning

2:20:34District 3, School Board District 3. And

2:20:38you know here, does anybody remember the

2:20:41Annabelle Lee, the Lady St. John's, you

2:20:44know, the foxy lady, you know, even you

2:20:48can throw the riverkeeper in there, you

2:20:50know, for but right now, you know, we're

2:20:53just going to be subsidizing. This was

2:20:55in rules, neighborhoods, finance, but

2:20:57not in waterways.

2:20:59again. You know, I want to be one of the

2:21:01biggest cheerleaders for downtown on our

2:21:03waterways. But the way that's only going

2:21:06to happen is if it's opened up and

2:21:10everyone is allowed to participate on an

2:21:13equal playing field, if you will,

2:21:16and and that's not happening. So, uh

2:21:20anyway, you know, as far as with this,

2:21:24uh it's like get in line. you know, who

2:21:27else needs some work done and uh um but

2:21:31anyway uh

2:21:34there everybody, you know, there should

2:21:36be so many speaker cards on this, but um

2:21:40anyway, I just wanted to be on the

2:21:41record. Thank you.

2:21:42>> I have no more speaker cards in 721.

2:21:44>> Okay, close.

2:21:47>> Item number 58, 2026 722. Mr. Nun, one

2:21:51speaker card. John.

2:21:58>> Hello. My name is John Nun. Name and

2:22:00address is on file. Okay. Now, this one.

2:22:04Gosh.

2:22:05You know, I I feel like it's like we're

2:22:07going back to draget on this one. you

2:22:10know, uh, ordinant, the office of

2:22:13administrative services ordinance code

2:22:16to rename the office of administrative

2:22:18services as administrative services,

2:22:21calling it now the department.

2:22:25Uh,

2:22:27no, just stick with what it was, the

2:22:30office of administrative services.

2:22:34You know, why are we just changing

2:22:35everything? This is the city,

2:22:39Jacksonville, Florida. It ain't easier

2:22:42here. All right, keep it the same. Thank

2:22:45you.

2:22:46>> Have no more speaker cards than 7:22.

2:22:48>> This public hearing is closed.

2:22:49>> Turning now to page 28, item number 59,

2:22:522026 724. I have no speaker cards.

2:22:54>> This public hearing is closed.

2:22:55>> And move the emergency.

2:22:56>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:22:58emergency. Seeing no one in the queue,

2:23:00all in favor of the emergency indicate

2:23:01by saying I. I. All against saying no.

2:23:03Emergency passes.

2:23:04>> Move the amendment. Second. We have a

2:23:06motion and a second on the amendment.

2:23:08Seeing no speakers in the amendment,

2:23:10we'll vote verbally. All in favor of the

2:23:11amendment. Indicate by saying I. I. All

2:23:13against say no. Amendment passes.

2:23:14>> Move the bill as an emergency as

2:23:16amended.

2:23:16>> We have a motion to second on the bill

2:23:18as an emergency as amended. There are no

2:23:20speakers. Open the battle court your

2:23:21vote.

2:23:31>> 18 yays, zero nays. By your vote 2026

2:23:34724 passes.

2:23:36>> Item number 60 2026 740. I have no

2:23:38speaker cards.

2:23:39>> Public hearing is closed.

2:23:41>> President, now it's time for public

2:23:42hearings on land use amendments,

2:23:44companion resonings, and modifications

2:23:47to the comp plan. Beginning on page 29,

2:23:50item number 61, 2026 126. I have one

2:23:55speaker card. Samantha series does not

2:23:59wish to speak, but she opposes 126. This

2:24:02public hearings continue to October

2:24:0427th, 2026.

2:24:05>> Turn to page. Item number 62, 2026 127.

2:24:09I have one speaker card

2:24:12Samantha series. She does wish to speak

2:24:15to this one, I believe. Just not marked

2:24:18otherwise. You're good.

2:24:19>> Miss series,

2:24:20>> she uh she opposes this but does not

2:24:22wish to speak.

2:24:23>> This public hearing is continued to

2:24:24October 27th, 2026.

2:24:26>> Next item 63, 2026 523. I have one

2:24:30speaker card, Samantha series. She

2:24:32opposes this bill, this bill, but does

2:24:34not wish to speak.

2:24:35>> This public hearings continue to October

2:24:3727th, 2026.

2:24:39>> During the page item number 64, 2026,

2:24:41524. Again, one speaker card Samantha

2:24:44series. She opposes this bill, but does

2:24:47not wish to speak.

2:24:48>> This public hearing is continued to

2:24:49October 27th, 2026.

2:24:51>> Item number 65, 2026, 631. I have no

2:24:55speaker cards. This

2:24:56>> public hearing is closed.

2:24:57>> Move the bill. We have a motion and a

2:24:59second on the bill. We're on item number

2:25:0165, 2026 0631. There are no speakers.

2:25:05Let's open the ball and court.

2:25:18>> 18 yay, zero nays.

2:25:19>> By your vote, 2026 0631 passes.

2:25:22>> Turning to page 32, item 66. 2026 632. I

2:25:28have no speaker cards.

2:25:29>> Public hearing is closed.

2:25:30>> Move the bill.

2:25:30>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:25:32bill. Give people a minute to get on the

2:25:34queue.

2:25:35>> A few seconds. Actually, seeing none,

2:25:37let's open the ballot court to vote.

2:25:50>> 18 yay, zero nays. By your vote 2026

2:25:530632 passes.

2:25:55>> Item 67 2026 647 I have no speaker

2:25:58cards.

2:25:59>> This public hearing is closed. An

2:26:00additional public hearing will be held

2:26:01on October 13 2026.

2:26:03>> Item 68 2026 648. I have one speaker

2:26:06card. So man I'm sorry. Paige Johnson.

2:26:11>> If I could I apologize Mr. President for

2:26:13the interruption. Our thin cl our thin

2:26:15clients were reflecting a different bill

2:26:17when the vote was taken on item 66.

2:26:21It was reflecting item 53 63. So I just

2:26:26want to make sure that the appropriate

2:26:27ballot was created and voted on.

2:26:29>> You want us to re

2:26:31>> I would like to let legislative services

2:26:33first confirm that the vote was

2:26:34accounted for the correct bill.

2:26:38>> Reopen. Okay. We'll entertain a motion.

2:26:40Do we need to reopen the public hearing?

2:26:41So, what I would recommend you do is

2:26:44finish the disposition of the bill that

2:26:45you're currently on and then somebody

2:26:47make a motion to reconsider the prior

2:26:49piece of legislation so that it can be

2:26:51reopened, closed, and then votes the

2:26:54motions made in the vote taken again.

2:26:56>> Okay, let's finish what we're on.

2:26:58>> All right, I think we're on item number

2:26:5968, 2026 648. As I mentioned, I have one

2:27:02speaker card, Paige Johnson. She does

2:27:04not wish to speak. She's here for

2:27:06questions only.

2:27:07>> This public hearing is closed. An

2:27:08additional public hearing will be held

2:27:09on October 13, 2026.

2:27:11>> So, Mr. President, let's go back to item

2:27:12number 66, 2026 632. Move to reconsider.

2:27:17>> Second.

2:27:18>> We have a motion, a second to

2:27:19reconsider. We'll take this

2:27:20reconsideration vote verbally. All those

2:27:22in favor of reconsidering indicate by

2:27:24saying I. I. I'll get to say no.

2:27:26Reconsideration passes. I open this

2:27:28public hearing.

2:27:28>> I have no speaker cards on 632.

2:27:30>> All right. This public hearing is

2:27:31closed.

2:27:32>> I move the bill.

2:27:33>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:27:34bill for everyone. We're on item number

2:27:3666, 2026 0632.

2:27:39Let's open the ballot and record your

2:27:40vote.

2:29:01Ladies and gentlemen, we're having a

2:29:03little bit of a technical difficulty

2:29:04here. Just stand by a minute or two.

2:30:22All right, the ballot is open.

2:30:3818 naysay zero nays.

2:30:39>> All right. By your vote 2026 0632

2:30:41passes.

2:30:43>> All right. Attorney page 33 item number

2:30:4569. 2026 649. I have no speaker cards.

2:30:50>> This public hearing is closed. An

2:30:51additional public hearing will be held

2:30:52on October 13, 2026.

2:30:54>> And the same with items 70 and 71, 650,

2:30:57and 66 651. I have no speaker cards.

2:31:08>> It is. Hold on. Okay, it's back on.

2:31:10These public hearings are closed and

2:31:12additional public hearings will be held

2:31:13on October 13, 2026.

2:31:16>> Turning to page 34, items 72, 73, and

2:31:1974. Again, I have no speaker cards of

2:31:22652, 653, or 654.

2:31:26>> These public hearings are closed.

2:31:27Additional public hearings will be held

2:31:28on October 13, 2026.

2:31:32>> All righty. Moving on now to

2:31:37page 35, item number 75, 2026 655. I

2:31:42have no speaker cards.

2:31:44>> This public hearing is closed and

2:31:45additional public hearing will be held

2:31:46on October 13th, 2026.

2:31:48>> And the same with item number 76, 2026,

2:31:51656. I have no speaker cards. This

2:31:53public hearing is closed. An additional

2:31:55public hearing will be held on October

2:31:5613, 2026.

2:31:58>> Mr. President, as per your instructions,

2:31:59we are not going to be taking up the

2:32:01third reading resolutions and or

2:32:04appropriate ordinances. We are going to

2:32:07start with item number

2:32:10five

2:32:10>> 90.

2:32:11>> 90. Thank you.

2:32:15>> You got it. Got it marked and

2:32:17everything. Uh this is 2026 570. I move

2:32:21the sub neighborhood substitute. We have

2:32:23a motion and a second on the

2:32:25neighborhoods substitute. I'll give

2:32:27people a minute here. All right. We do

2:32:28have one speaker in the queue. Is it on

2:32:30the substitute or would you like to

2:32:31speak on the bill of substitute?

2:32:32>> I'll speak on the bill.

2:32:33>> Okay. And Mr. L substitute. All right.

2:32:36Then we'll take the substitute vote

2:32:38early. All in favor of the substitute

2:32:39indicated by saying I. I. All against

2:32:41saying no. The substitute passes.

2:32:43>> Move the bill to substituted.

2:32:44>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:32:45bill is substituted. Mr. Boland followed

2:32:47by Mr. Layman.

2:32:48>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted

2:32:50to appreciate the my the colleagues and

2:32:52the hard work that went into the

2:32:53creation of this bill. It's been a a

2:32:55journey. We started back in October of

2:32:57last year. Uh two of the major concerns

2:32:59that came out of uh the discussion with

2:33:02respect to enforcement. Uh one was age.

2:33:05We eliminated that and secondly was

2:33:07speed limit. The concern was that we

2:33:09would not have sufficient signage and

2:33:12education of the consumers out there

2:33:13with respect to the limited speed limits

2:33:16on sidewalks and shared pathways. A

2:33:20couple of things have taken place in

2:33:22that regard. We incorporated into the

2:33:23bill a retail requirement of retailers

2:33:26providing information which the

2:33:28transportation planning department will

2:33:30be providing. As you heard from uh

2:33:33school board member Melanie Bulldog, we

2:33:35also heard from administration at DCPS

2:33:37who are going to actively update their

2:33:40education safety education programs to

2:33:42incorporate the bill. And as I noted

2:33:44last uh time in TEU in particular, I I

2:33:48went back and took a look at this safe

2:33:51streets initiative bill which we passed

2:33:53three years ago where we allotted

2:33:55$45,000 to each city council district

2:33:57councilman for the use of traffic

2:34:00calming devices. Very few of our

2:34:02colleagues have used that. The bill I'm

2:34:04introducing provides district councilmen

2:34:07the discretion to use these funds or a

2:34:09portion of those funds as they deem

2:34:10necessary to put speed submit the post

2:34:14speed limit signs in their district as

2:34:16as warranted. So I think we tried to

2:34:18cover all the bases in and putting this

2:34:20bill in place and I appreciate your

2:34:22support.

2:34:24>> All right. Thank you uh Mr. Boland. Mr.

2:34:26Lane and you're up followed by Dr.

2:34:27Salem.

2:34:28>> Thank you Mr. President. Uh, I was a no

2:34:30on this in committee and I still have

2:34:31some concerns on the enforcement aspect

2:34:33of this. Uh, we're basically relying on

2:34:3526 signs that are going to be posted on

2:34:37other speed limit signs on major

2:34:39entryways into our city. Uh, that'll

2:34:41tell us that citywide we have a 15 mph

2:34:44uh, speed limit. Uh, that being said, I

2:34:46am happy to hear that DCPS is supporting

2:34:48it. I think that'll help with the

2:34:49education piece beyond just the signs.

2:34:52Uh, Mr. Boland, you did call it a I

2:34:54think your exact words were it was not a

2:34:56perfect bill. Uh I do think at some

2:34:58point we may have to have an amendment

2:34:59or two on there because I still again I

2:35:01am concerned about the enforcement. Uh

2:35:04but just given my follow-up

2:35:05conversations with uh the school board

2:35:07uh I will support it. Uh but again uh

2:35:09just something we need to monitor the

2:35:11enforcement of this on carefully as it

2:35:12gets rolled out.

2:35:14>> Thank you sir. Dr. Salem followed by Mr.

2:35:16Matt Carluchcci.

2:35:18>> Thank you Mr. President. My sentiments

2:35:21are similar to my good friend Council

2:35:23Member Lane and I did not support this

2:35:24in committee. I've had uh additional

2:35:28discussions with JSO and u I I do

2:35:32believe it's a start and I think we need

2:35:34to start somewhere. So therefore I will

2:35:36be supporting it tonight. Thank you.

2:35:40>> All right. Thank you sir. Mr. Carluchi

2:35:41followed by Mr. Diamond.

2:35:49>> Uh thank you Mr. President. I promise to

2:35:51keep my language squeaky clean here. Um,

2:35:55I I want to say as an insurance agent,

2:35:58uh,

2:35:59this problem was begging for help. Um,

2:36:04and I just want to commend Councilman

2:36:06Borland. He has the rare ability to

2:36:09latch on to problems in our community

2:36:12that sometimes nobody else wants to um,

2:36:16take a hold of and grab the bull by the

2:36:18horns. And he did. Um

2:36:23there's certainly we need more signs and

2:36:26there's probably further work to be

2:36:27done. But you know what? You can't let

2:36:29the perfect get in the way of the good.

2:36:31The old saying and uh I just want to

2:36:34thank him for being the councilman who

2:36:37always seems to find a way to tackle

2:36:40these type of things. And uh and if we

2:36:43didn't do that, we'd never get anywhere.

2:36:46Uh, I hope that he will um continue

2:36:50working on this and I'd like to pledge

2:36:52to him the support that I didn't quite

2:36:55get to and and try to help you with

2:36:56this. And I think I could bring some

2:36:59insights to it uh from the experience

2:37:02I've had with customers and customers

2:37:05children who have been injured and hurt.

2:37:08U because uh this is not just a bicycle.

2:37:12It's a bicycle with a motor. So,

2:37:15somewhere between a motorcycle or

2:37:17scooter and a regular bicycle. So, if

2:37:20you have your desire to have beatings on

2:37:22it, I would be pleased to join you and

2:37:24to help you. Um,

2:37:27you know, kids get killed on these

2:37:29things and a life is a very valuable

2:37:32thing. Um, and once you lose it, that's

2:37:35it. And it's not only the life of a

2:37:37child, but I've had a lot of friends who

2:37:40have lost children and they never get

2:37:42over it. never for the rest of their

2:37:44lives. So, thank you, Councilman

2:37:47Borland. Thank you for always being the

2:37:49unheralded unheralded councilman who

2:37:51takes these things on. Thank you.

2:37:54>> All right, Mr. Diamond, followed by Mr.

2:37:56Paluso.

2:37:57>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to

2:37:58uh echo the perfect sentence my

2:38:00colleagues, Council Matt Carluchi, uh

2:38:02perfectly well stated. Um, thank you for

2:38:04doing this.

2:38:05>> Yeah, I'll you can record it. That's

2:38:06fine. Um, no. We had a 15-year-old who's

2:38:09friends with my niece and nephew at the

2:38:10beaches uh die at the fiveway on Penman.

2:38:13And every time I drive through the

2:38:14fiveway, literally every day I see a

2:38:16cross there. And we've got to do more.

2:38:18The beaches police officers and and uh

2:38:21police chiefs have been regulating very

2:38:22hard and it's working. And so whatever

2:38:25we can do, I'm all in. So, thank you.

2:38:27>> Thank you.

2:38:28>> And uh finally, Mr. Pussa.

2:38:30>> Thank you, Mr. President. And and to

2:38:32this body, as we've all been saying, I

2:38:34applaud you, Council Member Boland. uh

2:38:36there is no such thing as a perfect bill

2:38:37and with an emerging technology um like

2:38:40these vehicles, you don't always know

2:38:42how how to begin operating with it. Uh I

2:38:44know in my district I have a lot of

2:38:46concerned parents, a lot of concerned

2:38:47constituents and I'm very grateful that

2:38:49somebody really took the bull by the

2:38:50horns on this. Very grateful to you and

2:38:52very happy to support it.

2:38:54>> All right, there are no other speakers

2:38:55on the queue. We have a motion and a

2:38:57second on the bill as substituted. Let's

2:38:58open the ballot and record your vote.

2:39:06Thanks.

2:39:07>> 19 yays, zero nays.

2:39:08>> By unanimous vote, 2026 0570 passes.

2:39:12Congratulations, Mr. Boland. Thanks for

2:39:13your service, Mr.

2:39:14>> President. Appreciate it. Uh, and thank

2:39:16you for all the support from Matt Fall

2:39:17and Milo Corey and Corey Milo and other

2:39:21members of OGC and the bike club and all

2:39:24the folks who reached out to me uh along

2:39:26the way and encouraged this bill.

2:39:29Turning now to page 42, item number item

2:39:31number 91, 2026588.

2:39:33I move the amendment.

2:39:36I move the finance amendment. I'm sorry.

2:39:37We have a motion and a second on the

2:39:39finance amendment. See no speakers in

2:39:41the queue. We'll vote on the finance

2:39:42amendment verbally. All in favor

2:39:44indicate by saying I. I. All against

2:39:46saying no. Finance amendment passes.

2:39:47>> Move the bill as amended.

2:39:49>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:39:50bill as amended. Let's open the ballot.

2:39:52Record your vote.

2:40:0419 yays, zero nays.

2:40:06>> By your vote, 2026 0588 passes.

2:40:09>> Moving on now to item number 92, 2026

2:40:12624. I move the amendment.

2:40:14>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:40:15amendment. We'll take this amendment.

2:40:17Vote verbally. All in favor indicate by

2:40:18saying I. I. All against say no. The

2:40:20amendment passes.

2:40:22>> Move the bill as amended. We have a

2:40:24motion and a second on the bill as

2:40:25amended. There are no speakers. Let's

2:40:27open the ballot and record your vote.

2:40:38>> 19 yay, zero nays.

2:40:39>> By your vote 2026 0624 passes.

2:40:43>> Moving on now to item number

2:40:4793. Thank you. And that is 2026 634. I

2:40:52move the bill.

2:40:54>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:40:55bill. Mr. Gay

2:40:56>> Mr. Gay has to

2:40:58>> Do you need to No. Okay. Um motion and

2:41:01second on the bill.

2:41:03>> Oh, he's okay. Okay. Sorry. We're good.

2:41:05Thank you. Sorry. I had it written

2:41:07there. Um seeing no speakers in the

2:41:09queue, let's open the ball and record

2:41:10your vote.

2:41:3018 yays, one nay.

2:41:33>> By your vote, 2026 0634 passes.

2:41:36>> Turn to page 44. We're going to table

2:41:38item number 94, 2026 646 because it is a

2:41:42budget bill.

2:41:43>> All right. Roger that. And uh Mr. the

2:41:44floor leader. Before we go on to the

2:41:45next one, let me recognize Mr. Gay.

2:41:48>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to

2:41:49go on record that uh I have uh been

2:41:52clear through ethics to be able to vote

2:41:54on that. Thank you.

2:41:55>> I'm sorry I called you out, sir. Um back

2:41:57to you, Mr.

2:41:58>> All right, moving on now to item number

2:42:0095, 2022667. I move the bill.

2:42:03>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:42:05bill. We're on item number 95 2026 0667.

2:42:09We have Mr. Palo in the queue.

2:42:11>> Thank you, Mr. President. I um I'm very

2:42:14concerned with this bill. Uh I mentioned

2:42:15it during um our neighborhoods meeting.

2:42:18I have a I have a couple of issues with

2:42:20the bill as it stands in terms of what

2:42:21this contract and grant is supposed to

2:42:23go towards. There's a company named

2:42:25Paraguin that's supposed to be getting

2:42:26this contract. It's an AI company. We

2:42:29literally heard last week experts in AI

2:42:31say that there is a 10% chance AI will

2:42:34kill the human race. Now, I am not

2:42:36saying that that will happen. What I am

2:42:39saying is we need to make sure the city

2:42:40of Jacksonville has a policy on AI that

2:42:43attributes to all parts of the

2:42:45consolidated city and county government.

2:42:47Property appraiser, tax collector,

2:42:49public defender, JSO, city of

2:42:52Jacksonville. We need to make sure we

2:42:53know what data is and is not protected,

2:42:56what data is and is not to be sold, what

2:42:59data is is and is not allowed to be

2:43:01preserved, and where it gets preserved.

2:43:03I don't know where these servers are for

2:43:05what this company Paraguin is, going to

2:43:06do with it. I just don't know. I I tried

2:43:08to move to defer this bill because I

2:43:10wanted us to have um a policy that all

2:43:13the different agencies and departments,

2:43:14you know, again, DCPS, everyone else

2:43:16could could have gotten together and

2:43:18said anytime any one of us wants to

2:43:20enter into a contract with an AI

2:43:22company, these are the things that we

2:43:23will allow and not allow. That way, it

2:43:25allows for our procurement department to

2:43:27to kind of have a a central policy when

2:43:29a when something comes in where they

2:43:31have to pay pay to to an AI company. It

2:43:34made sense to me. I have very real

2:43:37concerns about AI, what it means for the

2:43:38economy, what it means for this

2:43:39government, what it means for the rights

2:43:41of our citizens. I am concerned.

2:43:45I tried to defer it. It didn't seem like

2:43:47that was going to work. I am voting no

2:43:48on this tonight. I ask that you do the

2:43:50same. I I just I just don't know this

2:43:52company. I don't know enough about it. I

2:43:53don't know enough about this grant. I

2:43:54don't know enough about AI in general.

2:43:56And I don't think we have expertise on

2:43:58this body who knows a lot about AI

2:44:00either. And I think if we are going to

2:44:02sign away potential rights of our

2:44:04citizens, we should really be aware. So

2:44:07I'm voting no on this. I ask that we do

2:44:08the same unless there is a move to

2:44:09defer.

2:44:12>> We have Mr. Matt Carluchi followed by

2:44:14Mr. Diamond.

2:44:18>> You don't want to speak, Mr. Kuchi? No.

2:44:19Okay, Mr. Diamond, you're up. Followed

2:44:21by Mr. Boland.

2:44:22>> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. This is a

2:44:24pass through bill. This is literally a

2:44:26pass through. $1.9 million given to the

2:44:28city of Jackson. It's a pass through.

2:44:29We're just saying thank you for the

2:44:30money. This whole idea, let's be let's

2:44:33be candid. This is entirely political. I

2:44:34get accused of this all the time. That

2:44:36was just a bunch of political garbage.

2:44:37It says something about enforcing

2:44:38immigration law and I don't want my name

2:44:40on it because I'm up for at large

2:44:41election. That's all that was. So, vote

2:44:43yes on this. Number one. Number two,

2:44:45it's a pass through. Number three, six

2:44:47weeks. Look at all this staff that we

2:44:48have back here. They're brilliant, super

2:44:50smart folks who can answer questions.

2:44:52Six weeks to get your really hard AI

2:44:54questions answered. Are you doing the

2:44:56job or not? Do the job. answer the

2:44:58questions and then you can vote.

2:45:01>> Mr. Boland, you got three minutes. Mr.

2:45:03Pusso, you're up afterwards. You got

2:45:04two.

2:45:05>> I don't need three minutes. I just

2:45:06wanted to follow up. I did do my

2:45:07homework on this one. I talked to Mr.

2:45:09Clement. He mentioned there were a

2:45:10number of agencies throughout the state

2:45:12already out utilizing this program and

2:45:14made me feel very comfortable that it's

2:45:16well established, wellrecoognized

2:45:17program and I was comfortable with the

2:45:19fact that it we are using something

2:45:21that's been well vetted.

2:45:24>> Thank you sir. Mr. Puss, two minutes.

2:45:25Thank you Mr. President. Uh, no, just to

2:45:28retort with one of my colleagues and

2:45:30just in general, uh, AI is a technology

2:45:32that I am not super familiar with and I

2:45:34don't believe anyone else is up here. We

2:45:35do have incredibly intelligent staff,

2:45:37but we do not have a policy in the city

2:45:38of Jacksonville, nor do we have one in

2:45:40any of the major agencies within the

2:45:42consolidated city and county. I spoke

2:45:43with JSO, I spoke with our other council

2:45:46members. They clearly have a different

2:45:48opinion than I do on some of this, but I

2:45:49genuinely am concerned and I do not know

2:45:52this company. And yes, a few other

2:45:53counties have used this this company,

2:45:56this AI company, Paraguin. But truly,

2:46:01do any of us know where this data and

2:46:04this information goes after it's passed

2:46:06off into the ether? I do not. And I have

2:46:10yet to get a great answer. And I have

2:46:12not seen the contract

2:46:14or the information about when when we

2:46:17have data, where does it go and where

2:46:18does it get stored. I have not heard

2:46:20that. And I would think that somebody

2:46:21who claims to be such a hardcore

2:46:23conservative would have concerns about

2:46:24people's rights as much as I do. I'm

2:46:26voting no on this. I ask you to do the

2:46:28same.

2:46:28>> All right. And last up, we have Dr.

2:46:30Salem.

2:46:34>> Thank you, Mr. President. I understand

2:46:36Council Member Pusso's concern. However,

2:46:40we need to move forward and study this

2:46:47>> entities that that you mentioned. Excuse

2:46:49me.

2:46:51Is that better? I'm sorry. I apologize.

2:46:54I have no no problem in developing a

2:46:57citywide policy with all the

2:47:00constitutional officers and everybody

2:47:01else, but you can't stop progress at the

2:47:04same time. We just can't stop. We need

2:47:07to continue. And uh sounds like a good a

2:47:10good idea for Mr. Bolan to take on after

2:47:14he

2:47:17after he finished ebikes. He's he's

2:47:19probably ready for another challenge.

2:47:21Did the jail did the jail and did the JA

2:47:24thing. I mean uh you're you're right.

2:47:27This is his specialty. And uh so

2:47:29somebody needs to do it. Whoever I'm

2:47:31like you. I I'm not real familiar with

2:47:33this. But but I do think we need to look

2:47:36at it, study it, and have a policy, but

2:47:38we can't stop at the same time. Thank

2:47:40you, Mr. President.

2:47:42>> All right. Thank you, Dr. Salem. There

2:47:45are no other speakers in the queue.

2:47:46Let's open the ballot and record your

2:47:47vote.

2:47:5818 yays, one nay.

2:48:00>> By your vote, 2026 0667 passes.

2:48:03>> Mr. President, I think I have a perfect

2:48:04example of artificial intelligence.

2:48:07>> Turning to Paige. Uh uh item number 96

2:48:102026675. I move the amendment.

2:48:13>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:48:15amendment. We're on item 96 2026 0675.

2:48:20No speakers in the amendment will vote

2:48:21verbally. All in favor indicate by

2:48:23saying I. I. All against say no

2:48:24amendment passes.

2:48:25>> Move the bill as amended.

2:48:26>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:48:27bill as amended. There are no speakers.

2:48:30Let's open the ballot and court your

2:48:31vote.

2:48:39>> 19 yay zero nays.

2:48:41>> By your vote 2026 0675 passes. turning

2:48:44to page 90 page 469 item number 97 2026

2:48:49676 I move the amendment

2:48:51>> we have a motion and a second on the

2:48:54bill as amended no sorry a motion and a

2:48:56second on the amendment seeing no

2:48:59speakers in the queue let's vote on the

2:49:00amendment verbally all in favor of the

2:49:01amendment indicate by saying I all

2:49:04against say no amendment passes

2:49:06>> move the bill as amended

2:49:07>> now we have a motion and second on the

2:49:09bill as amended no speakers in the queue

2:49:11let's open the ballot and record your

2:49:12vote

2:49:2519 yays, zero nays.

2:49:27>> By your vote, 2026 0676 passes.

2:49:32>> Mr. President, we moving on now to to

2:49:34second reading resolutions and

2:49:36ordinances.

2:49:37>> Well, 91. Oh, man. 98.

2:49:41We have one more. There it is. Item

2:49:44number 2026 678. I move the amendment.

2:49:48>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:49:50amendment. See no speakers in the queue.

2:49:53Let's vote on the amendment verbally.

2:49:54All in favor of the amendment indicate

2:49:55by saying I. I. All against say no. The

2:49:58amendment passes.

2:49:59>> Move the bill as amended.

2:50:01>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:50:02bill as amended. There are no speakers.

2:50:05Let's open the ballot and record your

2:50:07vote for the manatee tank youth pitch

2:50:08competition bill.

2:50:11Private funding private funding

2:50:19>> 19 yay zero nays

2:50:21>> buyer vote 2026 0678 passes.

2:50:24>> Now is the time to move on to second

2:50:26reading and resolutions and ordinances.

2:50:27Mr. Mr. Teal, would you please read the

2:50:30bills? 2026 725 726 727 728 729 730 731

2:50:38732 733 2026 689 690 691 692 693 694 695

2:50:47and 696

2:50:49>> Mr. President we have no public

2:50:50participation cards on any of those. So

2:50:52I'm going to move everyone to page 53

2:50:55item number 127 2026768.

2:50:59I move the emergency

2:51:01We have a motion and a second on the

2:51:03emergency. Seeing no speakers.

2:51:07Uh Mr. Diamond, you are on you're on the

2:51:10bill. Okay. Mr. Carrick, are you on the

2:51:11bill?

2:51:12>> Okay, let's vote on the emergency. All

2:51:14in favor indicate by saying I. I. All

2:51:16against saying no. Emergency pass.

2:51:17>> I move the bill as an emergency.

2:51:18>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:51:21bill as an emergency. I'll recognize um

2:51:23Mr. Diamond followed by um Mr. Cara. I

2:51:26>> I was just moving a council amendment

2:51:28>> and I would like to say the why. My dad

2:51:30used to tell me that you you can be a

2:51:32loud guy in the room, you just can't be

2:51:33the loudest guy in the room. And as so

2:51:35long as Jay Gordon was around, I

2:51:36followed his rule. So, I was very

2:51:38grateful. So, he's a great dude. Did

2:51:40great things for Jacksonville, I think

2:51:41council amendment makes sense. Thanks.

2:51:42>> Thank you, sir. We have a motion and a

2:51:43second on a council amendment. Mr.

2:51:45Pusso, you're on the queue. Are you on

2:51:46the council amendment? Nope. All right,

2:51:48let's vote on the council amendment

2:51:49verbally. All in favor, indicate by

2:51:50saying I. I. All against say no.

2:51:52>> Council amendment passes.

2:51:53>> Move the bill as an emergency as

2:51:55amended.

2:51:56>> We have a motion second on moving the

2:51:57bill as an emergency as amended. Mr.

2:51:59Pussi, you recognize.

2:52:00>> Thank you, Mr. President. And uh

2:52:02everyone in this body knows who Jake

2:52:03Gordon is. Um unfortunately, he's he's

2:52:06not here this evening, but uh on Friday,

2:52:08he will be having us farewell at 5:00

2:52:10p.m. where we will be uh hopefully if we

2:52:12all vote this in, which I believe we

2:52:14will, we'll be presenting this uh

2:52:16resolution to him. So, it's 5:00 p.m. on

2:52:18Friday over at the headquarters for DVI.

2:52:20Thank you.

2:52:21>> Low risk. All right. We have a motion

2:52:23and a second on the bill as amended. As

2:52:24an emergency, let's uh open the ballot

2:52:27court to vote.

2:52:5619 naysay zero nays.

2:52:58>> By your vote 2026 0768 passes.

2:53:01>> Turning now to page 57, item number 146.

2:53:042026 5750.

2:53:07I move the emergency.

2:53:08>> We have a motion and a second on the

2:53:11emergency. Mr. Pusso, you're still on

2:53:12there. Do you intend to be? No. Okay.

2:53:14Um, we will take a verbal vote on the

2:53:16emergency.

2:53:18You want to be on it, Council Dr. Salem?

2:53:21>> Yes. I want to speak on this this bill.

2:53:24This bill is an in-n-out emergency,

2:53:27which I have never ever been comfortable

2:53:29with anywhere. Uh, number one, and it

2:53:32appears to be a budget bill. There are

2:53:34amendments that are dealing with with

2:53:36this bill and and and I would compare it

2:53:40to one that's coming up next, which is

2:53:42150, which is an in-n-out emergency.

2:53:45And there are there are budget

2:53:48amendments dealing with this. Why are we

2:53:50dealing with it here versus during the

2:53:52budget process?

2:53:57>> Would you like the council chair to

2:53:59address that question

2:54:00>> or would you like the introducer to

2:54:02address the question?

2:54:03>> Well, uh, this one is, uh, Aras. Yes,

2:54:07council member Aras, please.

2:54:09>> Uh, Mr. President, if you don't mind,

2:54:10Mr. Papopolis, and then I'll chime in

2:54:12after that.

2:54:13>> Yes. through the president to council

2:54:15member Salem. So these bills are

2:54:17addressing um similar to a floor

2:54:19amendment that's proposed on the

2:54:21spreadsheet for the budget, but it's

2:54:22this year's money, which is why the need

2:54:24for the in-n-out emergency so that if

2:54:26the funds are appropriated, they're

2:54:28appropriated before September 30th. So

2:54:29it's pulling from this year's funding.

2:54:32And I believe the intent would be, and

2:54:33Mr. Arius can correct me if I'm wrong

2:54:35with respect to his legislation, if this

2:54:36bill passes, he would not be offering

2:54:38his floor amendment to the budget

2:54:39because it would no longer be necessary.

2:54:41>> But if I can, Mr. president, but it

2:54:43could be dealt with a floor uh during

2:54:45the amendment process. It can be dealt

2:54:47with that way.

2:54:48>> If if it's done through the floor

2:54:50amendment, that's that's for the budget,

2:54:52then it would be fiscal year $27 and it

2:54:55would be money coming out of the public

2:54:57safety contingency versus $206 coming

2:55:00out of the debt interest savings. So, it

2:55:02would just be a different funding

2:55:03source. I I I'll leave it up to the

2:55:06authors of the bills if if they would

2:55:08rather deal with it here or deal with it

2:55:11through um through a budget amendment.

2:55:16For uh the record, Miss Mr. Fness, I

2:55:19actually have a question very quick. So

2:55:21for this legislation right now, how many

2:55:22votes are needed and how many votes are

2:55:24needed for the budget portion of it? And

2:55:25not just for this one, but also for the

2:55:27other emergency, the 150

2:55:29>> through the president to council member

2:55:30Aria. So, for this piece of legislation,

2:55:32item 146 and the additional in-n-out

2:55:35emergency item 150, both would require a

2:55:37two-thirds vote because they are

2:55:39emergency bills. That's where the

2:55:40two-thirds vote comes from. The floor

2:55:42amendments to the budget would only

2:55:44require a 10 vote, 10 simple majority

2:55:47vote to approve. And then that would not

2:55:49adjust or require any changes to the

2:55:52budget's final vote, which currently

2:55:54sits at 10 votes.

2:55:56>> Okay. And one more question through the

2:55:58president to Mr. Fabulous. If I withdraw

2:56:01this bill, I still have the budget.

2:56:04>> No, I don't have the budget. Okay. I do.

2:56:07>> So, through the president to council

2:56:09member Arius, if you choose to withdraw

2:56:10this bill, you can do so. And if it's

2:56:13withdrawn, you could still offer your

2:56:14budget floor amendment to 504. It would

2:56:17just mean that you're pulling from a

2:56:18different funding source out of fiscal

2:56:20year 27 instead of the residual funds

2:56:22and the debt interest savings from

2:56:23fiscal year 26.

2:56:25>> Okay. Um to Mr. President, finance

2:56:28chair. Um, right now I'm looking at

2:56:30withdrawing this bill. You guys have to

2:56:31vote it down or up. Um, in this case, u

2:56:34just just my my movement right now if

2:56:37that's the case because we're needing 13

2:56:39votes for this. So, you guys have the

2:56:41power to decide on where we take this

2:56:43up.

2:56:43>> So, there you go.

2:56:45>> I want to recognize Mr. Landon.

2:56:47>> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President, and uh

2:56:48to Council Member Aras. Uh, when I saw

2:56:50this being introduced on emergency, I

2:56:52assume this was from wrap up day when

2:56:54you again brought the amendment. someone

2:56:56sponsored for you on finance committee

2:56:58and it was voted down. Uh similar to

2:57:00some other island uh some other items uh

2:57:03I know council Salem you had one there

2:57:05were multiple council members that had

2:57:07items that they found alternative

2:57:09funding sources. I believe that was your

2:57:12intent because this is with uh uh debt

2:57:15service repayment which I believe we

2:57:16still had some money that was expiring

2:57:18on September 30th. So when I saw this,

2:57:20my understanding is this is your attempt

2:57:23to use current year dollars that are

2:57:24expiring and keeping it out of the 504

2:57:27bill process. So through the president

2:57:29to council member Aras, I guess my

2:57:31question for you, assuming if it passes

2:57:33here, the first thing you would do is

2:57:35withdraw your budget amendment to keep

2:57:37it out of 504. Correct.

2:57:40>> That is correct.

2:57:41>> Okay. So through the through the chair,

2:57:43council member area, my second question

2:57:45is actually to the auditors. Mr.

2:57:46Peterson, we've seen a lot of bills draw

2:57:50from the same funding source. Say we run

2:57:53the table tonight, say everything gets

2:57:54approved, including 150, that's up next.

2:57:57Do we still have the money needed for

2:57:59all those bills in that funding source?

2:58:02I want to make sure we essentially don't

2:58:03overcommit. We approve all this. Next

2:58:05thing you know, all there wasn't that

2:58:06amount there. We have to draw from some

2:58:08other source.

2:58:15>> Check. through the president to council

2:58:16member Lannon. Uh that is correct. So

2:58:18based on the projections from the third

2:58:20quarter quarterly summary and all the

2:58:22information that we know the dollars are

2:58:24available for every bill that is on your

2:58:26agenda tonight.

2:58:27>> Yep.

2:58:28>> Through the president. Thank you, Mr.

2:58:29Peterson. Uh so here's where I'm at. I

2:58:32time and time again I encourage people

2:58:34to try to find alternative funding

2:58:35sources from city hall of fames or

2:58:38whatever we're going to call it to your

2:58:39bill to parks. So I'll support this to

2:58:42keep it out of having to budget for it.

2:58:44Uh, I will say my my only commentary

2:58:46really is again I got a lot of living

2:58:48relatives that voted for a

2:58:49consolidation. It does seem strange that

2:58:51years later we have both League of

2:58:53Cities and Association of Counties. So

2:58:55maybe that's something we can look at to

2:58:57see if we start going to one. Uh, but

2:58:59for now that since we do have the

2:59:01available funding source and to keep it

2:59:04out of a 504 bill, I will support it.

2:59:08>> Okay, we're over to next is Mr. Diamond

2:59:11followed by Dr. Johnson. To me, this is

2:59:13crazy. Um, look, just because we didn't

2:59:15spend the money last year doesn't mean

2:59:16we should be spending it irresponsibly

2:59:18this year. Last year's money, if we

2:59:20didn't spend it and we're spending less

2:59:21than we did last year, we should be

2:59:23rolling back the tax rate. That's what

2:59:25we should be doing. Send the money back

2:59:27to the people. So, look, uh, I've never

2:59:29seen this done before. I voted against

2:59:31seven budgets. Never seen anyone with a

2:59:33one cycle in, pardon me, in and out

2:59:34emergency trying to get around the

2:59:36budget process. and very specifically

2:59:38when we voted no twice on this very

2:59:41appropriation. Why do we go through a

2:59:43budget process at all? Why have a budget

2:59:46committee if we're just going to go

2:59:47around and fold on budget night? The

2:59:50answer was no at finance. It should be

2:59:52no tonight. I'm voting against all these

2:59:54emergencies and anybody who tries to

2:59:56vote any money into the budget. It's

2:59:58already just below what we spent last

3:00:00year spending another dollar is nuts to

3:00:02me.

3:00:05>> Yeah. Sorry, point of order. Yeah. Um,

3:00:07Mr. Aries, did you make a mo are we on

3:00:09the motion? I heard a motion and I

3:00:11thought I heard a second. What are we on

3:00:13right now?

3:00:13>> We're on the bill as we're

3:00:16>> Yeah. emergency.

3:00:18>> He thinks we're on the withdrawal. You

3:00:20were saying we're on the emergency.

3:00:21>> We're on the emergency.

3:00:22>> Okay.

3:00:22>> Your point is well taken. Right now,

3:00:23we're on the emergency. So, we can pass

3:00:25the emergency and then we can have this

3:00:26debate.

3:00:33>> Right now, we're on the emergency. You I

3:00:35didn't hear you withdraw.

3:00:36>> I did withdraw it.

3:00:38>> I I did withdraw it.

3:00:40>> Yes.

3:00:41>> No, I'm saying I I move to withdraw.

3:00:50>> No. Um we're next up is uh Miss Clark

3:00:54Murray. There's a point of order. The

3:00:55point of order is well taken. We're on

3:00:57the emergency right now. Um Miss Clark

3:00:58Murray's up next. you're on the

3:01:00emergency

3:01:04>> to the chair. Um, at first I was going

3:01:06to address his motion to withdraw

3:01:09because I wanted him to know that I

3:01:12support the bill and it makes sense that

3:01:14we have funding now to actually go ahead

3:01:17and take care of this bill now at this

3:01:19particular point in the agenda. So

3:01:20that's what my comments were going to

3:01:22be, not necessarily the emergency.

3:01:24>> Okay.

3:01:27>> Okay. Okay.

3:01:29>> All right. All right, we are right now

3:01:30on the withdrawal because Mr. Aras

3:01:32introduced a withdrawal. Um, and it has

3:01:34been seconded. So, um,

3:01:36>> I I'm I'm sorry. Point of order again. I

3:01:39did not maybe someone else heard. I

3:01:40didn't hear a second and he was he's

3:01:42taking it.

3:01:43>> Okay. So, through the chair. So, does it

3:01:45matter when the timing of the second was

3:01:47because there was like he was talking

3:01:49there was debate but I didn't hear a

3:01:51second and I and I'm listening

3:01:53carefully.

3:01:53>> I checked with Mr. Fopolis. So, the

3:01:55withdrawal vote was made. There was a

3:01:57second. So withdrawal vote can be made

3:01:58any time. So withdrawal vote was made

3:02:00after the emergency was uh proposed and

3:02:02second and before the vote. So right now

3:02:03there is a withdrawal on the table. Now

3:02:05he can withdraw his can you withdraw his

3:02:08vote?

3:02:08>> All right. So welcome to withdraw your

3:02:11withdrawal if you'd like.

3:02:17>> I think we need to move on. I've already

3:02:18said what I'm doing. So that's we'll

3:02:21take it up.

3:02:22>> All right.

3:02:22>> I need 10 votes, not 13 votes. And I

3:02:24don't have 13 votes.

3:02:26Well,

3:02:27>> I could I could read

3:02:27>> I want to say, "Oh, ye of little faith."

3:02:29You do you really know that you don't

3:02:31through the chair. Do you do you really

3:02:32know that you don't have 13?

3:02:34>> I'm just reading the room.

3:02:35>> Okay. I don't know. I think you're

3:02:37reading it wrong, but through the

3:02:38>> All right. Thank you. Uh Mr. All right.

3:02:41We have a vote on the withdrawal. I've

3:02:42got a motion on the withdrawal. It's

3:02:44been seconded. I've got Dr. Salem, Mr.

3:02:45Carico, Miss Pitman, Mr. Carluchi, Dr.

3:02:47Johnson. Only if you're speaking on the

3:02:49withdrawal. Anyone speaking on the

3:02:52withdrawal?

3:02:52>> No. No. I just want to clarify. I tried

3:02:55to get on the on the queue at the

3:02:58beginning of this process before the

3:03:00emergency was made. You didn't see me. I

3:03:02understand that, but it sounds like

3:03:05we're in the place now where we're

3:03:06dealing with the withdrawal and that's I

3:03:08think that's where we need to be. Thank

3:03:09you.

3:03:10>> We're on the withdrawal. Mr. Carico,

3:03:11you're next in the queue. Are you

3:03:12speaking on the withdrawal?

3:03:14>> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. On the

3:03:15withdrawal, if the bill sponsor wants a

3:03:16withdrawal, I think we should withdraw

3:03:17it. He has an opportunity. He He's

3:03:19expressed he'd rather go for it with 10

3:03:21votes. Uh so I'm not going to support

3:03:24the emergency. I'm not going to support

3:03:25this bill. Uh like Mr. Diamond said,

3:03:27this is kind of hijacking the budget

3:03:28process. Uh let's let it play out on the

3:03:30amendments. Um but if he wants to

3:03:32withdraw, I'll support him.

3:03:35>> Okay. We have uh Mr. Carluchi next. Only

3:03:37if you're on the withdrawal before we

3:03:39take the withdrawal vote, followed by uh

3:03:41Dr. Johnson, followed by Mr. Aras.

3:03:43>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have

3:03:45successfully

3:03:47um really confused a very simple issue.

3:03:50uh the money for these organizations was

3:03:53in the budget. Now, how this bill came

3:03:56around, I don't know, but he's trying to

3:03:58withdraw it so that we can go back and

3:04:01address it to put the money back in the

3:04:04budget with the budget amendment. So,

3:04:07this bill should go away and we should

3:04:10go back to try to put the money with the

3:04:12amendment back in the budget from whence

3:04:15it came. So, this bill should go away so

3:04:18we can get back in the original posture.

3:04:23>> Mr. Chair, I I know you're juggling.

3:04:26>> Yeah, we're adjusting right here. No,

3:04:28there's a

3:04:29>> But did you understand what I was

3:04:30saying?

3:04:31>> You You better be speaking the

3:04:32withdrawal. I've been trying to deal

3:04:33with this. There's a motion.

3:04:34>> This bill needs to be withdrawn because

3:04:36what he wants to do I think everybody

3:04:38heard you and put the money the money

3:04:40for these was in the budget and it was

3:04:43taken out. We need to go back and put

3:04:45the money was taken out back into the

3:04:48budget.

3:04:48>> Yep. Got it. Okay. Next up is

3:04:50>> 10 votes.

3:04:50>> Thank you. Dr. Johnson, followed by Miss

3:04:52Clark Murray, followed by Mr. Aras.

3:04:54Speaking on the withdrawal. If you're

3:04:55not speaking on

3:04:55>> Yes, sir. It's the withdrawal. Thank

3:04:56you, Mr. President. I appreciate that.

3:04:58My I have a procedural question and then

3:04:59a comment. Uh my first question is if

3:05:02the

3:05:04and this is to through the chair to the

3:05:06general counsel. If the the withdrawal

3:05:09of this bill or excuse me if the

3:05:11withdrawal can the introducer of the

3:05:14withdrawal withdraw the withdrawal

3:05:18>> I just

3:05:20>> through the president to council member

3:05:21Johnson. Yes. the introducer can move

3:05:24withdraw their motion as long as there's

3:05:26no objection from anyone else on council

3:05:28or by the second then there's no need to

3:05:30move to withdraw the motion to

3:05:32>> okay if the introduc another legal

3:05:34question if the introducer withdraws the

3:05:36withdrawal or it doesn't withdraw it and

3:05:38it goes to a vote would the intro or

3:05:42would the bill would that person still

3:05:43have another bite at the apple in the

3:05:44budget process or does it does this

3:05:46preclude that

3:05:47>> so if this bill is disposed of on

3:05:50emergency and it passes

3:05:52it would not then you would not need to

3:05:54take up the floor amendment on the

3:05:56budget. You could still choose to do so

3:05:58and if you take it up on the budget and

3:06:00you pass the floor amendment you would

3:06:02have to come back and reconsider this

3:06:04legislation to either withdraw it or

3:06:05deny it because you would have addressed

3:06:07the need for the funding through 504

3:06:09instead of this bill.

3:06:11>> But if it fails another bite at the

3:06:12apple is still possible. So if it if

3:06:14this bill fails Yeah.

3:06:15>> and you go to 504 and there's a floor

3:06:18amendment or that is approved or not,

3:06:19you can still somebody on the prevailing

3:06:21side of this bill can move to reconsider

3:06:23it.

3:06:24>> Gotcha.

3:06:24>> And then reopen it if that move motion

3:06:26to reconsideration reconsider passes and

3:06:29then you go back through this

3:06:30legislation and vote on it again.

3:06:32>> Thank you for the information. I just

3:06:33want to say first of all I want to

3:06:34commend uh and I I appreciate the work

3:06:36the general counsel's office and the

3:06:37auditors have done to find and realize

3:06:39these funds. Uh Mr. chair. I want to to

3:06:42through the chair to Councilman Aras.

3:06:43Thank you. Uh the League of Cities and

3:06:45Association of Counties is a necessary

3:06:47thing. I I'd also like to you know the

3:06:50finance chair did speak to the fact that

3:06:52he would support it and you did exactly

3:06:54what he asked to do to go and find an

3:06:55alternate funding source and that's

3:06:57what's done which keeps it from being in

3:06:59the budget. So I think this is the right

3:07:00place to vote for it. I also agree with

3:07:03Council Member Clark Murray. I think the

3:07:05tea leaves show that the support can be

3:07:07here. But here's the thing, push it

3:07:09through. I should I support do not

3:07:11support the withdrawal because I believe

3:07:12that if it fails here there was still

3:07:14another bite at the apple if the budget

3:07:16in the budget if necessary. Uh finally I

3:07:18wanted to say while I do understand uh

3:07:21the finance chair's uh maybe not

3:07:24understanding of of the difference

3:07:26between the League of Cities and the

3:07:27Association of Counties. We are both a

3:07:28city and a county. While I do sit on the

3:07:30board of directors for the 411 m

3:07:32municipalities, towns, and villages in

3:07:34Florida, what I want us to understand is

3:07:35that there are unique needs that the

3:07:37city of Jacksonville has that the

3:07:38Association of Counties addresses as

3:07:40well as the League of Cities addresses.

3:07:42And as Councilman White so eloquently

3:07:44said, we ain't a bunch of Yahoos. So, we

3:07:46need to be at all of the tables all the

3:07:47time because we are the largest and we

3:07:49set the trend. Thank you.

3:07:51>> I'll recognize Miss Pitman.

3:07:57Well, first of all, I I do understand,

3:08:00Councilman Eris, that you wanted to

3:08:03withdraw.

3:08:05I think you should um withdraw. Um not

3:08:10only that, and I think at last council

3:08:12member uh meeting, I mentioned to you

3:08:14all that um the counties were coming to

3:08:17Jacksonville. They were here last week

3:08:21and the impact that they had, they

3:08:25didn't realize that Jacksonville was

3:08:27that innovative. And so we were there um

3:08:32along with uh Councilman Carico went to

3:08:37one of the um conferences and we brought

3:08:40them here and from an economic

3:08:43standpoint we did what we needed to do

3:08:46and we showed up and showed out. And so,

3:08:50you know, I agree with you to have this

3:08:54as a backup or have it and win it and

3:08:58not knowing what we're going to have

3:08:59because we have a very tight budget. And

3:09:01so, I got to say, I've been on here for

3:09:05several years and have benefited from

3:09:07being um on this committee and I think

3:09:11we need to invest in it. And so I would

3:09:15like for you to undo it and let's let's

3:09:18let's let's start over.

3:09:20>> Thank you.

3:09:22>> I'm going to hand the gavl to Mr.

3:09:23Carluchi.

3:09:27>> Council President Helen, you're

3:09:28recognized.

3:09:29>> Uh thank you, Mr. Vice President.

3:09:32I uh am disappointed that there's a

3:09:34motion to withdraw on the table. I will

3:09:36vote against the motion to withdraw. And

3:09:37let me explain why. This goes uh and

3:09:41points towards the whole point of the

3:09:42budget process this year. The whole

3:09:44point of the budget process this year

3:09:45was to reduce spending. And that's what

3:09:48the finance committee did over and over

3:09:50again through six different hearings. Um

3:09:52we have a budget right now that fully

3:09:54funds public safety, a budget that fully

3:09:56funds critical infrastructure, and a

3:09:58budget that fully funds core services.

3:10:00And the finance chair was clear that if

3:10:02anyone really had an opportunity they

3:10:04thought was missed, find an alternative

3:10:06funding source. And that's what I'm

3:10:08seeing in this bill. That's what I saw

3:10:10in the blue sky bill. And that's what

3:10:11I'm seeing in the bill we're about to

3:10:13vote next. I commend you, Councilman

3:10:15Aras. I commend Councilwoman Holder. I

3:10:17commend Councilman Salem for finding

3:10:19other sources of revenue to drive their

3:10:24priorities without affecting the budget.

3:10:26You're using current year money and

3:10:28you're not rolling this into the budget.

3:10:30Why that's so important is because as we

3:10:31face revenue uncertainty with amendment

3:10:33three, we don't want a budget that's so

3:10:35big that in it incurs new recurring

3:10:38spend. So you follow the direction of

3:10:40the kind of the finance share which is

3:10:41to find an alternative source in current

3:10:43year to get your priority funded. That's

3:10:45why I think we should vote on this right

3:10:46now rather than voting on it in the

3:10:48budget. Thanks.

3:10:55>> Okay. So uh Mr. area should recognize

3:10:58followed by Miss Clark Murray.

3:10:59>> All right. Thank you, Mr. President. So,

3:11:01I'll be very quick and I'll explain to

3:11:02you my rationale behind all this. Uh

3:11:05last year during this budget process,

3:11:06the same thing. We we found alternative

3:11:08different sources for different um

3:11:10initiatives in our city. Uh one of

3:11:12which, which I don't see in this current

3:11:13budget is Hispanic Chamber, Black

3:11:15Chamber, and the Asian Chamber. However,

3:11:17I do see the Jack's Chamber, the regular

3:11:20chamber. And why is that so important

3:11:22for me right now is because, you know,

3:11:24if we don't solidify these things and

3:11:26bake them into the actual budget that

3:11:27we're currently talking about right now,

3:11:29it will not come into the next year's

3:11:30budget. Right now, if we take this up in

3:11:332025 26 current year funding,

3:11:37it doesn't cement the fact that it was

3:11:39taken up in the 2627 budget. And my

3:11:41problem with that is that I want to make

3:11:43sure that we continue this trend. As

3:11:45Miss Pitman said, she she's not going to

3:11:47be here next year. I want to make sure

3:11:48that her legacy stays on in the

3:11:50recurring years. And if we cement this

3:11:52and bake it into the budget now for 2728

3:11:54budget, guess what? There's going to be

3:11:55a line item says FAC, Association,

3:11:57Counties, League of Cities, and

3:11:58everything else was funded. If not, it's

3:12:00going to show zero funding. And it's

3:12:01going to happen the same thing that

3:12:02happened to the Asian Black Chamber and

3:12:03Hispanic Chambers. They're not even the

3:12:05budget. They're not even in the budget.

3:12:07And so, I want to make sure that these

3:12:09things are solidified and baked into our

3:12:12current budget that we're voting on

3:12:13right now, which is why I am withdrawing

3:12:15this bill. I respectfully request that

3:12:18all you guys, whoever wants to support

3:12:20me on this, support me in the budget.

3:12:23That's it. I just need 10 votes. I

3:12:25cannot get to 13. You guys are saying

3:12:27yes. I cannot and I'm not willing to

3:12:29take that chance and risk it. But at the

3:12:30end of the day, I want to make sure that

3:12:32this is this is solidified in our

3:12:33current 2627 budget, not 2526.

3:12:35Otherwise, that'll be two times that we

3:12:37paid him in 2526. That's not right.

3:12:40Thank you.

3:12:42>> All right, Mr. Clerk Murray.

3:12:44Thank you chair. Um through the chair to

3:12:46Mr. Peterson. So my concern is about the

3:12:49funding. So the funding source where

3:12:51it's an emergency because the funding

3:12:53source or the funds itself will uh

3:12:55expire on the 30th. So if he continues

3:12:58the withdrawal, will those funds expire

3:13:00on the 30th

3:13:03>> through the president to council member

3:13:04Clark Murray? Yes. They will lapse on

3:13:06September 30th to the general fund

3:13:08reserves.

3:13:09>> Okay. And so through the chair to Mr.

3:13:11Peterson. So even with that, we could

3:13:13still pull them for the 2627 budget. Is

3:13:16that possible from the from the general

3:13:19fund

3:13:20>> through the president to council Clark

3:13:22Murray? You could always introduce a

3:13:24bill in the new year to pull out of

3:13:25reserves for any purpose. It this just

3:13:27triggers the two-thirds vote.

3:13:29>> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you,

3:13:31President.

3:13:33>> Okay. Councilman Landon.

3:13:36>> Thank you, Chair. to council mayor

3:13:37arius. I'm not going to vote against

3:13:38your uh motion to withdraw if that's

3:13:40your preference. I will say you're kind

3:13:42of in the unique position. We could vote

3:13:44on this, see what happens, and then

3:13:46we're going to vote on a floor amendment

3:13:47before too long. Uh you almost get two

3:13:49chances essentially. So again, I'm not

3:13:51going to fight your motion to withdraw.

3:13:54Uh but just want to throw that out there

3:13:55that you essentially have two

3:13:57opportunities tonight to uh get this

3:13:58passed.

3:14:00>> All right, Mr. Matt Carluchi followed by

3:14:02Mr. Palooa.

3:14:09Okay. Uh,

3:14:11the money for these organizations was in

3:14:14the original budget. Is that correct?

3:14:18>> Is that correct?

3:14:18>> It was in the mayor's proposed budget.

3:14:20>> Yes, that was handed to us.

3:14:22So, I say this in all due respect,

3:14:27and nobody's been more complimentary of

3:14:30you and the council finance committee

3:14:32chairman than I have. social media,

3:14:35talking to my friends, um, and platforms

3:14:39I've been given, um, on radio and TV and

3:14:43so forth,

3:14:44and I have truly meant it.

3:14:47Uh but when you start saying that what

3:14:50the finance committee did is what

3:14:53everybody else should honor

3:14:55um I can respect that but I don't agree

3:14:58with it because otherwise if if we are

3:15:03all supposed to fall in line with what

3:15:05the finance committee did then that

3:15:07renders the other council members here

3:15:09um without any say so and that's not

3:15:13democracy and that's not fair.

3:15:17Uh there are amendments for a reason for

3:15:19the rest of the council who was not

3:15:21chosen to be on the finance committee to

3:15:23have a say so.

3:15:26So

3:15:27if this bill passes,

3:15:31I would vote for it because I think we

3:15:34should be members of these

3:15:35organizations. You always have and we

3:15:37always should be. They played a big part

3:15:41in the city of Jacksonville at important

3:15:43times.

3:15:46And but to vote for it as a separate

3:15:48bill and not in the budget as we always

3:15:51has, I think sets a very bad precedent.

3:15:54I think the bill uh I mean I think the

3:15:58budget should reflect that these are

3:16:00paid for in the budget because it shows

3:16:02a real commitment to where our city

3:16:05should be.

3:16:06>> Thank you.

3:16:06>> So I urge everybody to vote to put this

3:16:09in the budget to withdraw this so it

3:16:12looks like we're back to normal. Thank

3:16:14you.

3:16:14>> All right, Mr. Pusso, followed by Mr.

3:16:16Romero.

3:16:17>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, to the

3:16:18body, I mean, I I I think truly, friend,

3:16:21I believe there's 13 votes right here. I

3:16:23believe the council president and the

3:16:25finance chair would prefer this method

3:16:27because it's a funding source that

3:16:29doesn't conflict with their with some of

3:16:31their values. And I am concerned that if

3:16:32we get to the amendment process that it

3:16:34might actually get voted down. I believe

3:16:36the votes are here. And I I think I I I

3:16:39for one would love for you to withdraw

3:16:40your withdrawal for us to get the 13

3:16:42votes, which I believe I'm seeing

3:16:44headnoding that you have and then we

3:16:46move forward with a funding source that

3:16:48I think most people concur not only is

3:16:52what they prefer, but available to us. I

3:16:55know that I'm going to be supportive of

3:16:56it. Uh I want to back you up, but I I'm

3:16:59looking, man. I think we're here and and

3:17:01I believe we have council leadership

3:17:02that's on our side with this as well. I

3:17:04want to see these get funded. I think

3:17:05that you're right to do it. I also want

3:17:06to continue the conversation on those

3:17:07chambers. I think you're right about

3:17:08that as well. But what we have before us

3:17:10is a way to make sure we avoid a long

3:17:12discussion on an amendment where we can

3:17:14right now vote something up. If you

3:17:16withdraw your bill and we go for the

3:17:17emergency and vote it up, I think we're

3:17:19in a good posture. And so that's

3:17:20something that I would prefer and I

3:17:21believe uh I'm seeing seeing some

3:17:23acknowledgement here amongst our

3:17:24colleagues.

3:17:26>> Thank you, Mr. Paloo. Over to Mr.

3:17:28Romero.

3:17:31>> Thank you, Mr. President. Call the

3:17:32question.

3:17:35All right. We have a uh motion and a

3:17:37second to call the question. This is a

3:17:39calling the question on the motion to

3:17:41withdraw. Um so we'll take a vote

3:17:43verbally on calling the question. All in

3:17:45favor of calling the question uh

3:17:46indicate by raising your hand.

3:18:03>> Is that pass or not pass? Okay, it

3:18:05fails. And there was only one speaker in

3:18:07the Q&A. It was Mr. Vice President Joe

3:18:10Carluchi.

3:18:10>> Okay.

3:18:14>> Check. Check. All right. Um Well, yeah.

3:18:18So, um you know, personally, if the bill

3:18:21sponsor wants to withdraw his bill, I'm

3:18:23Council Member Lane and I I'll support

3:18:25the withdrawal. Um, I'm probably I don't

3:18:28know where I'm at on the bill it itself

3:18:29as it stands right now, but um I think

3:18:32the I think what I'm seeing here is

3:18:34you're strong your argument that you

3:18:36made was you saw something important to

3:18:39you in the budget last year get removed

3:18:42and then you saw zeros there and you

3:18:44know how hard it is to get something

3:18:46back in after it's zero. So that's

3:18:48that's what I see your dilemma as um

3:18:51from what you've said. uh not necess

3:18:54there could be 15 votes here. I I don't

3:18:56know. Um but but I but I do agree with

3:18:59with that statement. Um once it's in

3:19:01there as a zero um certainly harder to

3:19:04put it back in there, not sure I would

3:19:06support it in the budget either way. Um

3:19:08but that that's where I'm at. So that's

3:19:10me on the withdrawal.

3:19:12>> All right. We have no other speakers in

3:19:13the queue. Um the withdrawal is a ballot

3:19:16vote. So let's open the ballot and

3:19:18record your vote to withdraw.

3:19:20>> To withdraw.

3:19:21>> Yeah.

3:19:23Green is withdrawn. Red is not

3:19:25withdrawn.

3:19:36>> 13 yays, six nazs.

3:19:39>> All right. By your vote, the bill is

3:19:40withdrawn.

3:19:44>> It's not.

3:19:45>> I would.

3:19:46>> Okay. Explain our posture, Mary.

3:19:49to vote yes on a withdrawal. You only

3:19:51you needed 10 votes to withdraw. You had

3:19:5313 votes against the withdrawal. So, the

3:19:55withdrawal fails.

3:19:56>> Oh, can we see the score again, please?

3:19:59>> That's not right.

3:19:59>> Is that correct?

3:20:00>> No, there were 13 yays, six

3:20:01>> nays.

3:20:03>> Sorry, I read backwards on budget night.

3:20:08>> And no one here hired me for my math

3:20:10skills.

3:20:11>> By by your vote, uh the bill is

3:20:14withdrawn. We move next. Uh Mr. Boland

3:20:16>> and we didn't have 17 people to correct

3:20:18you as I do. Moving on now to item

3:20:22number 146 on page 57 2026750.

3:20:27I believe Miss Holder would like to be

3:20:29recognized. Mr. Chair Oh, I'm sorry.

3:20:31Turning the page 150 226754. Miss Holder

3:20:35would like to speak to this bill before

3:20:36I

3:20:36>> before. Yes.

3:20:39>> All right. Miss Holder.

3:20:40>> Mr. Council President, I would ask that

3:20:42you please temporarily pass on this bill

3:20:44until after the budget.

3:20:47>> Um I would rather not. You're asking me

3:20:49to table the bill?

3:20:50>> Um I'd rather we hear it. I think it's a

3:20:52responsible thing to do to take up um

3:20:54current year spend bills prior to

3:20:56finalizing the budget. Um I think that's

3:20:58why we set the agenda that way. So you I

3:21:00believe you can make a motion if you'd

3:21:02like.

3:21:02>> Can I make a motion to lay the bill on

3:21:04the table?

3:21:06>> We have a motion and a second to lay the

3:21:08bill on the table. president.

3:21:13>> All right, Miss Holden.

3:21:15>> Yes. So, I want to lay this bill on the

3:21:16table to um as we know, affordable

3:21:20housing is an issue that we've heard our

3:21:23neighbors here in Jacksonville speak to

3:21:24as being very important and something

3:21:26that's extremely important to me. But

3:21:28I've also heard the request for 4.9

3:21:30million being restored back into the

3:21:32budget. And my emergency bill falls a

3:21:35bit short of that. So, I want to kind of

3:21:36clear the pathway to have discussion to

3:21:38get to the 4.9 million and honor the

3:21:41request of our people here in

3:21:42Jacksonville.

3:21:44>> All right. It's not debatable. Uh so, we

3:21:46have a motion and a t u a second on to

3:21:49lay it on the table. It's a verbal vote.

3:21:52>> Uh point of order, Mr. Salem, address

3:21:54your point of order, please.

3:22:01>> Mr. President, would you like me to

3:22:02address that?

3:22:05All right, Miss uh Mr. Fopoulos, please

3:22:06explain the implications the

3:22:07>> implications of a table and how it's

3:22:09different from a withdrawal.

3:22:11>> Sure. Thank you. Um the motion to lay on

3:22:14the table has the effect of as it says

3:22:17laying the item on the table. So you

3:22:19would pass it over to take up other

3:22:21items on your agenda before the end of

3:22:23the meeting. If it's the intention of

3:22:24the council to take up the bill, a

3:22:26motion to remove it from the table or

3:22:29move it off the table would need to be

3:22:30made before the end of this meeting and

3:22:32seconded. and then that would put the

3:22:34item back before the council for

3:22:35disposition of the bill. So this has the

3:22:38temp the effect of temporarily placing

3:22:40it on the table until later in the

3:22:42meeting when it could be addressed by

3:22:44the council.

3:22:46>> Okay, Dr. Johnson, you have another

3:22:47question for Missopoulos.

3:22:49>> I do. Point of information. Um the

3:22:51question through the chair through the

3:22:53president. If this bit does this bill

3:22:56because it has been tabled at this

3:22:58point, does it have to be handled as

3:23:00business before the cessation of this

3:23:03meeting?

3:23:04>> It has not been tabled yet. If it is, if

3:23:06it's the motion has not been taken up.

3:23:08Um, so what the rules provide, Robert's

3:23:12rules provide that you have until the

3:23:14conclusion of the next regular meeting

3:23:16to take the item up before it is

3:23:18considered no longer part of the agenda.

3:23:20So it would fall off your agenda at the

3:23:22end of the next regular meeting if not

3:23:23disposed of during this

3:23:24>> and at that point it would automatically

3:23:26there would be no need for a vote for

3:23:27that.

3:23:28>> Correct.

3:23:28>> Yes. Okay. Thank you, Mr. President.

3:23:30>> All right. Thank you. And the vote to uh

3:23:32lay it on the table is verbal vote.

3:23:34>> It can be done verbally and it requires

3:23:36a simple majority.

3:23:38>> Okay. Actually, let's take this by hand.

3:23:40All those uh who support laying on the

3:23:42table indicate by raising your hand.

3:23:50All right, it passes. The one number 150

3:23:53202260754

3:23:55is laid on the table.

3:23:57>> Mr. President, notwithstanding that

3:23:59item,

3:24:01um, our remaining non-budget related

3:24:04item is the addendum.

3:24:05>> Yep.

3:24:06>> So, I'd like to move the addendum.

3:24:07>> Second.

3:24:08>> All right. We have a motion and a second

3:24:10on the addendum. I'll note um to

3:24:12everybody here, I see no speakers that

3:24:14there's an item on the addendum item 155

3:24:17that is 2026 0780.

3:24:20This is something uh that a bill that

3:24:22was introduced on the addendum worked um

3:24:24with the administration and JTA on. Um

3:24:26it'll go through one cycle, so you'll

3:24:28hear it in committee and it addresses

3:24:30opening up LOGT for potential

3:24:32operational uses including paying down

3:24:34JTA's line of credit. Um and um I just

3:24:38want everyone to know that that's on

3:24:39there. It's a way for JTA to begin to

3:24:41address some of its current calamities.

3:24:43Um, with that, I see no other speakers.

3:24:46Uh, we'll take a a verbal vote on the

3:24:48addendum. All in favor of moving the

3:24:50addendum indicate by saying I. I. All

3:24:52against saying no. Addendum passes.

3:24:54>> Mr. President, we are now ready to take

3:24:55up the three millillage bills beginning

3:24:56on page 36 and the budget items

3:24:59thereafter. Pursuant to section 20065

3:25:04of the Florida statute, the council sec

3:25:06secretary, Mr. Mr. Teal will read a

3:25:08statement immediately prior to today's

3:25:10public hearings concerning the adoption

3:25:12of the first, second, and third mill

3:25:14rate levies.

3:25:17>> Mr. Council Secretary,

3:25:21pursuant to Florida statute section

3:25:23200.065, 065. The council secretary or

3:25:26designate will read the following

3:25:27statement immediately prior to the

3:25:29public hearing on September 22nd, 2026

3:25:32concerning the adoption of the first

3:25:342026 2027 mill levy. Ordinance 2026501.

3:25:40The consolidated city of Jacksonville

3:25:41proposes to levy the following millage

3:25:43rate within the general fund general

3:25:45services district.

3:25:49>> Go ahead. Go ahead.

3:25:50>> Keep going. Are you done? uh accepting

3:25:52urban services districts 2 through 5 a

3:25:54total millage of 11.1919

3:25:57mills for operations. This reflects a

3:25:593.93% increase in the operating millage

3:26:02rate from the roll back rate of 10.7689

3:26:06mills. Thank you, Mr. President.

3:26:11>> Mr. President, I'd ask you to open the

3:26:13public hearing on for 501, please.

3:26:17>> Uh actually before I open the public

3:26:19hearing, Mr. Um, council secretary, will

3:26:22you please read the clerk statement?

3:26:25>> You just did.

3:26:26>> Did you you have to read the first one?

3:26:27You read the second one already.

3:26:28>> No, we just read the first one.

3:26:30>> Oh, okay. This public hearing is open.

3:26:32>> I have one speaker card, Jamie Travis

3:26:34Leonard.

3:26:35Got

3:26:37three minutes.

3:26:51>> Good evening, city council. My name is

3:26:52Jamie Travis Linder. My address is on

3:26:53file. My apologies. I was expecting more

3:26:55people to talk to this, but you just get

3:26:57me. Yay. So, I do support the millillage

3:27:01uh that the mayor proposed. Um I did not

3:27:04support last year when we reduced the

3:27:07millillage during city council. Um a lot

3:27:09of people came out and said that they

3:27:12want their dollars being spent on

3:27:14services and for that we need the

3:27:16millillage that is proposed. So I'm back

3:27:19again this year to uh reiterate the same

3:27:21thing. So I support 26501 as proposed by

3:27:25the mayor. Please don't amend it. Please

3:27:28take my taxes. That's why I have a

3:27:30house. It's the only form of taxes I can

3:27:32pay in this city to help fund my

3:27:34community. So, thank you.

3:27:40>> I have no more speaker cards on 501, Mr.

3:27:43President. So, you can close the public

3:27:44hearing.

3:27:44>> This public hearing is closed.

3:27:46>> I move uh 2026501.

3:27:49>> We have a motion and a second on the

3:27:51bill 2026501.

3:27:53We have Mr. Diamond in the queue.

3:27:57>> Thank you, Mr. President. I'll just do

3:27:58this once rather than belaboring this

3:27:59over and over again. And I was going to

3:28:01introduce a floor amendment to do a roll

3:28:03back rate, but let's be honest, I don't

3:28:05have the votes to do it. I don't have

3:28:07the votes. And so, I'm not going to put

3:28:09us through this exercise over and over

3:28:10again. I voted against all the other

3:28:12budgets because every single budget I've

3:28:13ever been part of in the city of

3:28:14Jacksonville has raised taxes on the

3:28:16people of Jacksonville. We went from a $

3:28:171.35 billion budget to a $2 billion

3:28:20budget this year and last year. And we

3:28:22have not got $700 million of better

3:28:25government from the people. And I agree,

3:28:27there's all sorts of stuff in this

3:28:28budget that is wonderful. There's

3:28:30sidewalks in there and there's pools and

3:28:31there's all sorts of great programs for

3:28:33people and I love that part. That is the

3:28:34good part of the government. No

3:28:36question. The bad part that nobody ever

3:28:38wants to talk about because the people

3:28:40are not in this room. They're at home or

3:28:41they're at work right now is they're

3:28:42trying to keep their homes and the cost

3:28:45of keeping your home in Jacksonville

3:28:46keeps going up. Mortgage rates are high

3:28:49in Jacksonville. Homeowners insurance is

3:28:51high in Jacksonville. Jacksonville is

3:28:53becoming unaffordable. And the one thing

3:28:55we can do to make it more affordable is

3:28:57to lower people's tax rate. and we've

3:28:59decided not to do it. So, I'm sorry to

3:29:01the people of Jacksonville. I've never

3:29:03once successfully got you an actual tax

3:29:05cut. We've had a couple of roll backs

3:29:06and that's great. That's not a real tax

3:29:08cut. If you're paying more for your home

3:29:10this year than you did last year, that's

3:29:12a tax increase. So, I'll vote no on the

3:29:14budget. I'm voting no on all of these uh

3:29:16bills on the millage rate because it's a

3:29:19tax increase. We are making it harder on

3:29:21the people of Jacksonville to keep their

3:29:23homes. And for all the people who are

3:29:25working so hard trying to pay their

3:29:27mortgage and to see that huge tax bill

3:29:29come every year and wonder what you're

3:29:31getting for it, you have every right to

3:29:32be mad. This budget fine. There's

3:29:35wonderful things in there, but we have

3:29:37not recognized the hardworking people of

3:29:39Jacksonville.

3:29:41>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Diamond, Mr.

3:29:42Carico. Followed by Miss Clark Murray.

3:29:45>> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. I I'll try

3:29:47to be brief. I, you know, led the charge

3:29:49last year with a lot of support to

3:29:51decrease taxes and to cut the millage

3:29:53rate. And, uh, what what I told people

3:29:54and what I gave interviews is that this

3:29:56is just the start. It's an eighth and

3:29:58I'd like to see another eighth and

3:29:59another eighth and another eighth until

3:30:00we get to a place where our taxes are

3:30:02are fair and our budget is uh is not

3:30:04inflated. I think the finance committee

3:30:05did an amazing job of uh of finding

3:30:08waste and finding dollars and putting

3:30:10them in different places. So, I think we

3:30:11found enough where we we could have

3:30:12rolled it back. So, uh you would have

3:30:15had at least one vote. Um, but that

3:30:17that's didn't happen. So, I just want to

3:30:18go on the record that I'm not going to

3:30:20vote for any of these. I would have

3:30:21supported a uh uh a reduction, but uh I

3:30:24won't make any big stink out of it the

3:30:26rest of the night. Thanks.

3:30:28>> Thank you, Miss Clark Murray, followed

3:30:29by Mr. Romero.

3:30:31>> Thank you, chair. Through the chair, to

3:30:32Miss Defopolis, and and and as you are

3:30:35rising, I'll talk about this. So, the

3:30:36last council meeting I asked questions

3:30:38about this particular bill and if the

3:30:43residents of the beaches had an

3:30:44opportunity to chime in on the bill

3:30:46because I think one of the things that

3:30:48council member Diamond is trying to

3:30:50express is that the people of J Beach

3:30:53and those particular areas didn't have

3:30:54an opportunity to have a say. So will

3:30:58you just reemphasize the fact that uh

3:31:00the process that happens out at the

3:31:02beaches to help everyone who is here on

3:31:05this deis as well as those those in the

3:31:08audience understand that the people do

3:31:10and did have a say

3:31:12>> through the president to council member

3:31:13Clark Murray and the council. So um 501

3:31:16is really with respect to the city of

3:31:18Jacksonville excluding the beaches in

3:31:19Baldwin. However, your your question is

3:31:21germaine to 502 and 503 and yes, we did

3:31:25address it at the last meeting and as we

3:31:27discussed then um the trim notices go

3:31:30out which reflect all of the millages

3:31:32proposed millages to be assessed against

3:31:34the property by any entity that would be

3:31:35assessing those millages. the notice of

3:31:38the legislation that's required under

3:31:40state statute to address the millillage

3:31:42and the budget all goes out and the

3:31:44individuals of the public from whatever

3:31:46jurisdiction they reside in are able to

3:31:48come to the hearings to address those

3:31:50bills at the city council here at the

3:31:52city of Jacksonville as well as their

3:31:54own councils within their respective

3:31:55jurisdictions with regards to the

3:31:57millillage rates to be assessed at the

3:31:58local level in their jurisdictions so

3:32:01that everybody has that same opportunity

3:32:02that same information to address the

3:32:05legislation on the millillage before

3:32:06it's enacted.

3:32:10All right, Mr. Romero followed by Mr.

3:32:11Aras.

3:32:15>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh through the

3:32:17chair to the uh finance committee uh

3:32:20chair, Mr.

3:32:23Lane,

3:32:25I uh I was not able to attend every

3:32:28finance

3:32:30budget committee hearing, but I believe

3:32:32in objective truth. And so what I need

3:32:35to know at any time during any of those

3:32:38proceedings

3:32:40that the committee increase the millage

3:32:42rate

3:32:46>> through the president to council member

3:32:47Mar. No, we did not make a motion to

3:32:49change within the finance committee. Uh

3:32:51501 I believe that's what you're asking.

3:32:55>> Did you increase the mill rate?

3:32:57>> No. So the millage rate that passed

3:32:59through finance committee was the same

3:33:00as last year.

3:33:04All right, Mr. Aris, followed by Mr.

3:33:06Matt Carluchi.

3:33:07>> Thank you, Mr. President. So, I rise to

3:33:09just let people know and and Mr.

3:33:10Diamond, I would have supported your

3:33:11millage cut. You know, last year when we

3:33:13cut the taxes, um it was a very minor

3:33:16tax cut. And I said this, you know, not

3:33:18just with this tax cut, but in anything

3:33:20in life, things are about incremental

3:33:21changes, right? Little by little, not a

3:33:24full half a millage cut, not a full

3:33:27point cut, but 1/8. If we do that every

3:33:30year, we'll be able to continue keeping

3:33:31up on things. I'm I'm going to be more

3:33:34than likely supporting some other uh

3:33:35initiatives happening tonight. Why?

3:33:37Because our community, our city needs

3:33:39relief, not just taxpayers, but also

3:33:41those who can afford rents. We heard

3:33:43from the community today. So, I think

3:33:45there's a world where both sides can

3:33:47work together and actually live and um

3:33:50afford things. But um just for the

3:33:52record, you would have had a second vote

3:33:54on that uh 1/8 cut today. Thank you,

3:33:57>> Mr. Mr. Matt Carlo followed by Dr.

3:33:59Salem.

3:34:03>> Um I uh was very pleased with the way

3:34:06the budget went this year.

3:34:08Uh I I heard some council members uh

3:34:10through the media and committees that

3:34:13had a great plan to cut hundred million

3:34:15dollars out of the budget.

3:34:18Um this is my 20th and last budget. Uh

3:34:22I've I've been part of budgets and when

3:34:24I wasn't on finance, I try to attend

3:34:28And I've I've heard council members uh

3:34:31claim uh we're going to cut $50 million

3:34:34out of the budget. We're going we're

3:34:36going to cut cut cut. But then when they

3:34:39sit down at the budget hearings and

3:34:43budget about that thick gets placed in

3:34:46front of them and they see where all the

3:34:48dollars have to be applied throughout

3:34:52the over 800 million square miles or 800

3:34:55uh square miles of Jacksonville.

3:34:58Well, it just ain't that easy. and all

3:35:01those grandiose plans of cutting the

3:35:03budget, you find out that uh those cuts

3:35:07affect real people.

3:35:10And so, usually there's just not many

3:35:12cuts to be made. And um and all those

3:35:16grand plans to to cut the budget by

3:35:19those grand amounts fizzle out.

3:35:24And sometimes what happens, you find out

3:35:26they really need more money in different

3:35:28departments.

3:35:29And suddenly we have to be grown-ups to

3:35:32make sure that we're uh budgeting the

3:35:37dollars that are needed to take care of

3:35:39our community.

3:35:42And sometimes people say, "Well, we're

3:35:44going to cut the libraries this year."

3:35:46And so there's a big aim at the

3:35:47libraries. And when the people that love

3:35:50the libraries find out, well then they

3:35:52come down to city hall at the budget

3:35:54hearings and uh suddenly the council

3:35:58sounds like Ralph Crampton when he's

3:36:00embarrassed by Alice and trying to

3:36:02explain why why he's doing something and

3:36:04it turns into a big hubba hubba hub hub

3:36:08and uh suddenly the money magically

3:36:10appears back into the library budget.

3:36:13Look, folks,

3:36:16it may not be popular to say it, but the

3:36:19dollars in the budget are needed there

3:36:21for a reason.

3:36:23And um and I think we struck a good

3:36:26balance.

3:36:27But if you really want to start, we we

3:36:29we had people upset about uh 20 million,

3:36:34try doing that with 300 million council

3:36:37members. It's not it's not going to be

3:36:39fun. And if you're in leadership at that

3:36:42point, it's going to be a miserable

3:36:43year.

3:36:45You got to you got to explain to people

3:36:48in such a way that hopefully they can

3:36:50understand.

3:36:52And um

3:36:54I don't have the time to tell stories. I

3:36:57got three seconds left, but Councilman

3:36:59Lannon, you did a good job, but don't be

3:37:02afraid to show a little flexibility

3:37:04tonight on the amendments. It won't hurt

3:37:06and actually make you look good.

3:37:08>> Give you a lot of grace. Uh, Dr. Salem,

3:37:10followed by Mr. Diamond.

3:37:12>> Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going to

3:37:14say this once, as several others have

3:37:17said. I think we've made as a city a

3:37:21tragic mistake in not preparing for

3:37:23amendment three. I said this in June

3:37:28and and we should have cut a hund00

3:37:30million out of this budget and put it

3:37:32into a contingency

3:37:34in case amendment three passes. We've

3:37:37got a train coming at us that may hit

3:37:41us.

3:37:42I've seen the polling like the rest of

3:37:44you. I said it in June. I was hopeful

3:37:47the mayor and her budget would do

3:37:49something for amendment three and it was

3:37:52a normal budget,

3:37:54ignoring amendment three. And I know

3:37:57there are people calling vote no on

3:37:59amendment three. And I hear it from the

3:38:02civic council, the mayor, and others.

3:38:04But it may pass.

3:38:06And I believe in preparing for something

3:38:10like that because if amendment three

3:38:12passes,

3:38:15we're going to have a JTA budget

3:38:17situation ourselves here, if not worse.

3:38:21And we missed an opportunity to

3:38:24adequately prepare for it.

3:38:28And uh I I think we've made a as a city

3:38:32a tragic mistake here. other communities

3:38:34are preparing. We're going on assuming

3:38:37it's not going to pass.

3:38:41So, um, we'll see what happens, but I

3:38:46think we missed an opportunity. I I can

3:38:48guarantee you if private companies that

3:38:51were facing a 15% reduction in their

3:38:55revenue would be preparing for that. For

3:38:59some reason, this government believes

3:39:01we'll deal with it with a 2728 budget.

3:39:04It's way too late to do that. I've

3:39:07talked to the auditors. I I believe if

3:39:09it does pass, we'll be reopening this

3:39:12budget at some point and and to try to

3:39:16address it because we can't do it. We

3:39:18can't wait till 2728 and adequately

3:39:21prepare. So, I wish we wish we would

3:39:24have done more as a city, but it it is

3:39:28what it is, and I'm going to just say it

3:39:29once on on 501. Thank you very much, Mr.

3:39:32President.

3:39:34>> Uh, Mr. Diamond, followed by Dr.

3:39:36Johnson, followed again by Matt

3:39:37Carluchi. Um, anyone who's on their

3:39:40second time has two minutes.

3:39:42>> I'll I'll be quick. Uh, I agree with

3:39:44everything my colleague uh, Councilman

3:39:46Salem just said, but uh, even though I

3:39:48don't have the voice of God, I do have a

3:39:51belief in objective truth. And so to our

3:39:53wonderful council auditors, I know

3:39:54Philip is busy over there. Just a very

3:39:56simple question. If I'm a homeowner in

3:39:58Jacksonville, I owned a house here last

3:39:59year and I still own that house this

3:40:01year. Am I paying more in taxes this

3:40:02year than I did last year? The easy

3:40:04question

3:40:08through the president to council member

3:40:09Diamond. If the value of your home

3:40:10increased as determined by the property

3:40:12appraiser, then yes, you would be paying

3:40:13more in taxes.

3:40:14>> And we could probably assume through the

3:40:16council president, most people's houses

3:40:18increase in value in the city of

3:40:19Jacksonville. I think we know that from

3:40:20the property appraisers's office

3:40:24>> through the chair to council member

3:40:25Diamond. The logic seems appropriate.

3:40:28>> All right, that's a tax increase, my

3:40:29friends.

3:40:31>> Dr. Johnson, followed by Mr. Matt

3:40:33Carluchi.

3:40:35>> Mr. President, I know I'm not sure if

3:40:37this is appropriate, but I had a

3:40:38question about and I I know it's kind of

3:40:41not in this space, so I certainly will

3:40:43respect it if you do not entertain this,

3:40:44but I had a question for either the

3:40:46auditors or the CFO about kind of what

3:40:48Dr. Salem said about what happens in the

3:40:52event of amendment three.

3:40:54>> Will you accept?

3:40:55>> It's Germaine, you can ask the auditors.

3:40:57Yep.

3:40:57>> Gotcha. Okay. I may have uh for the CFO,

3:40:59I may have a question, but to the

3:41:00auditors, if this amendment three passes

3:41:02based on what Dr. Salem said, um, would

3:41:06that not allow or would the fact that we

3:41:09have the reserves we need to would you

3:41:11recommend having a just from your fiscal

3:41:14responsibility? Obviously, I know we are

3:41:16the ones that make the laws. It's not

3:41:17you, but based on fiscal accounting

3:41:20practices, is that something that's

3:41:22recommend to have a recommended to have

3:41:24a hund00 million fund or something like

3:41:26that in the event of

3:41:29uh the passage of that amendment?

3:41:31through the president. Council member

3:41:33Johnson, I'm not aware of any

3:41:35recommendations from any entities as it

3:41:37relates to how to address amendment

3:41:39three uh forthcoming. The

3:41:41recommendations that are out there are

3:41:43to have at least two months of reserves

3:41:45on hand based on your operating budget.

3:41:48At this point, this the council or the

3:41:50city of Jacksonville does have that

3:41:51amount set aside in reserves. If

3:41:54amendment three were to pass, our

3:41:55operating budget will go down next year

3:41:57approximately $200 million and therefore

3:42:00our reserves would still meet that two

3:42:02months requirement because the budget

3:42:04would be $200 million less and

3:42:06theoretically our reserves would not

3:42:08have changed. if I could through the

3:42:10chair through the president to the C CFO

3:42:12is there anything specific that's right

3:42:14now the administration is doing uh to

3:42:17prepare for that or or the chief of st

3:42:20or the CIO um that the administration is

3:42:23doing at this point and I am sorry to

3:42:26call you all up I just want to make sure

3:42:28that I understand specifically for my

3:42:30constituents and those people I'm I'm

3:42:32advocating for.

3:42:34Thank you, Representative Weinstein. And

3:42:36thank you for indulging me, Mr.

3:42:37President.

3:42:39All right. Thank you, Mr. Matt Carluchi,

3:42:42followed by Councilman Layman.

3:42:45>> Mr. President, is can I

3:42:47>> I'd ask a question to the CEO. He's

3:42:49>> not paying attention. Go ahead.

3:42:51>> Is that okay, Mr. President?

3:42:53>> Yes, please.

3:42:53>> Uh Mike Weinstein, CIO, we have, as we

3:42:56said many, many times this year in our

3:42:58budget, kept recurring down. We didn't

3:43:00add any positions purposely to get ready

3:43:03for something if in fact something

3:43:04happens. We felt all along

3:43:07the vote is early early November. We'd

3:43:10be one month only into our budget. If it

3:43:12passes, which you know there are a lot

3:43:15of repercussions and and hopefully it

3:43:17won't pass that we would have 11 months

3:43:20of this budget to begin to get ready for

3:43:22next year's the the hit doesn't come

3:43:24until 2728. We'd have the vast majority

3:43:28of this year to begin to adjust what it

3:43:30is we will have passed tonight with

3:43:33council. I've said many times this the

3:43:35administration and council would sit

3:43:36down and discuss what adjustments we

3:43:39could make to this budget to get ready

3:43:41for next year's budget. So, we've had

3:43:44many conversations about it, but we

3:43:45didn't feel that we should take drastic

3:43:48measures until we know what happened and

3:43:50we have enough time to adjust by it.

3:43:52>> Thank you, Representative. Thank you,

3:43:54Mr. President.

3:43:54>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Carlo.

3:43:55Followed by Mr. Landon. I'd like to

3:43:58dubtail on what u the chief

3:44:00administrative officer uh Michael

3:44:03Weinstein said. Um we will survive well

3:44:08with this budget even if there's some

3:44:10amendments. We've not made a mistake

3:44:12this year. I'm convinced of that. Uh if

3:44:16amendment three passes, we have a lot of

3:44:19time between now and then to start

3:44:21putting together some mock budgets. But

3:44:24those mock budgets should not be done

3:44:26without town meetings

3:44:29because we need to hear from the people

3:44:31as to what they would want cut in that

3:44:34budget which would be so drastically.

3:44:37We should not be making huge cuts right

3:44:40now unless we had had town meetings

3:44:43throughout this complete city as to what

3:44:47are the uh projects, what are the

3:44:50departments, what are the services that

3:44:53you think we should cut to get down to

3:44:55that first tier of about 200 million and

3:44:59then the next year to 300 million.

3:45:02If if we had done that with this budget,

3:45:04we would have been putting the cart

3:45:05before the horse.

3:45:08We need to put all of those different

3:45:11budgets that take up how many millions

3:45:13millions of dollars

3:45:15and and outline them and itemize them

3:45:19and go to public meetings led by our

3:45:23soon to be council president Joe

3:45:24Carluchi

3:45:26who will be our next council president

3:45:28along with you council president with

3:45:31our council auditors and all of us who

3:45:34want to be there and face the firing

3:45:36squad.

3:45:40And I heard Councilman Vice President

3:45:42Joe Carluchi on one of the shows, I

3:45:44think this week in Jacksonville, who

3:45:46said he would want to start putting

3:45:48together mock budgets immediately after

3:45:50November if it passes.

3:45:53I for one think the more people learn

3:45:55about this, it will not pass.

3:45:57>> Thank you, sir. All right, over to Mr.

3:45:58Layman.

3:45:59>> Thank you, Council President. I was

3:46:00going to wait till we got to 504, but I

3:46:02just wanted to respond to a couple

3:46:03things. Uh, first off, the finance

3:46:05committee. Two of our biggest things

3:46:07going into the budget process, you

3:46:08mentioned it multiple times. Is it core?

3:46:10Is it duplicative? Do we have the cash

3:46:11for it? And then I added, hey, let's try

3:46:14to preserve cash because it may be hard

3:46:16to scale down to $200 million in one

3:46:18year. And we may need cash. Cash is

3:46:21flexibility in the business world. And I

3:46:23said, let's not start anything new. And

3:46:24I'm sure we're going to start this when

3:46:25we get to affordable housing and a few

3:46:27of the other floor amendments. And with

3:46:29regards to being prepared, for the first

3:46:31time in 14 years, we have a budget with

3:46:33less spending year-over-year. And

3:46:35through the president, council member

3:46:36Salem, you were there. You saw I tried

3:46:38to get a little bit more at times. Um,

3:46:40and again, as finance chair, I also

3:46:42wanted to make sure I was balancing what

3:46:43gets us a budget that'll also get passed

3:46:46as well. So, I feel we are prepared

3:46:48because we did not grow government. Uh,

3:46:50like council member Joe Carluchi, like

3:46:52Matt Carluchi alluded to, uh, November

3:46:554th could be a very busy workday for all

3:46:57involved. Uh and so again though, that

3:46:59is day 34 of this budget that we're

3:47:02going to approve. So that if amendment

3:47:04three passes, uh we've done some things

3:47:06to prepare. I'm sure we're going to talk

3:47:07about public service grants and cultural

3:47:09service grants. Rather than releasing

3:47:11all that money on day one, it's

3:47:13potentially not either released at all

3:47:14or we wait till day 34. So we did put

3:47:17protections in place to help us get on a

3:47:19potential head start if amendment three

3:47:21does pass. Thank you.

3:47:23>> Exactly.

3:47:24>> All right. There are no other speakers.

3:47:26Have we moved this bill?

3:47:28>> Yes.

3:47:28>> All right. We have a motion and a second

3:47:30on 2026 0501. Let's open the ballot and

3:47:34record your vote.

3:47:5716 yays, three nays.

3:47:59>> And by your vote 2026 0501 passes, we

3:48:04move on now to item number 78 20226502

3:48:07would ask Mr. Teer please read the

3:48:08statement.

3:48:10>> Pursuant to Florida statute section

3:48:12200.065, 065. The council secretary or

3:48:15designate will read the following

3:48:17statement immediately prior to the

3:48:18public hearing on September 22nd, 2026

3:48:21concerning the adoption of the second

3:48:232026 2027 millage levy.

3:48:26Ordinance 2026502.

3:48:29The consolidated city of Jacksonville

3:48:31proposes to levy the following millage

3:48:33rate within the general fund general

3:48:35services district including only urban

3:48:37service districts 2 through 4, a total

3:48:40millage of 7.9012

3:48:43mills for operations. This reflects a

3:48:466.24%

3:48:47increase in the appro in the operating

3:48:49millage rate from the rolled back rate

3:48:51of 7.4373

3:48:53mills. Thank you, Mr. President.

3:48:56>> I have no Mr. President, I have no

3:48:57motion. I have no Would you please open

3:48:59the public hearing?

3:48:59>> This public hearing is open.

3:49:00>> I have no public no comment cards for

3:49:04item 502.

3:49:05>> This public hearing is closed.

3:49:07>> I move the bill.

3:49:10>> We have a motion and a second on the

3:49:12bill. There are no speakers. Let's open

3:49:14the ballot and record your vote.

3:49:3316 yays, three nays.

3:49:34>> By your vote 2026 0502 passes.

3:49:37>> Turning to page 37, item number 79,

3:49:402026503.

3:49:41Mr. T, would you please read the

3:49:43statement?

3:49:44>> Pursuant Pursuant to Florida statute

3:49:46section 200.065.

3:49:49The council secretary or designign will

3:49:50read the following statement immediately

3:49:52prior to the public hearing on September

3:49:5422nd, 2026 concerning the adoption of

3:49:57the 3rd 2026 2027 millage levy.

3:50:01Ordinance 2026503.

3:50:03The consolidated city of Jacksonville

3:50:05proposes to levy the following mill rate

3:50:07within the general fund general services

3:50:09district including only urban services

3:50:11district 5, a total millage of 9.4208

3:50:15mills for operations. This reflects a

3:50:181.98% increase in the operating millage

3:50:20rate from the roll back rate of 9.2380

3:50:24mills. Thank you, Mr. President.

3:50:26>> Mr. President, would you please open the

3:50:28public hearing?

3:50:29>> This public hearing is open.

3:50:30>> I have no speaker cards on 503.

3:50:33>> This public hearing is closed.

3:50:34>> I move the bill.

3:50:35>> We have a motion and a second on the

3:50:36bill. There are no speakers. Let's open

3:50:38the ballot and record your vote.

3:50:5216 yays, three nays.

3:50:53>> By your vote, 2026 0503 passes.

3:50:56>> Moving on now to item number 80, 2026

3:51:00504. Would ask that you please open the

3:51:02public hearing.

3:51:03>> This public hearing is open.

3:51:05>> Mr. President, we have a number of cards

3:51:06of individuals w wishing wish wishing to

3:51:09speak to 504. When I call your name,

3:51:12would you please come to the forward and

3:51:14sit down on front, please? The first

3:51:16five names are Blake Harper,

3:51:19Ed Meliss Mleski, I'm sorry, Ed, uh, FA

3:51:23Diamond, Paul Guyoto,

3:51:26and Allan Masten. If you please go, come

3:51:29on down to the front. Mr. Harper, you

3:51:30are first if you're still here.

3:51:33Mr. Harper, are you here?

3:51:36>> All right, then. Mr. Mleski, you are

3:51:39first, sir.

3:51:43Ed Mleski name uh address is on record.

3:51:47Um tonight uh I'm representing the uh

3:51:51art center cooperative. Uh we operate a

3:51:55gallery and and rental studios on East

3:51:58Adam Street. Um we also have another

3:52:01rental location in um

3:52:04San Marco. Um, we got our first grant in

3:52:10um, 2018 and I would say that the

3:52:14biggest thing that happened from getting

3:52:17grant funding, which we really

3:52:18appreciate, is the ability for our

3:52:22organization to stabilize. Rather than

3:52:25being on 30-day or 30 uh, yes, it was

3:52:3030-day leases, we were now able to get a

3:52:32longer lease and all of that. One of the

3:52:35things that happens with that however

3:52:37sorry sir pause this time Mr. serious.

3:52:39We have to have a keep quum. Come on

3:52:41back. Sniped you. Sorry. Continue, sir.

3:52:46Continue. Sorry for the interruption. We

3:52:47got to keep quum so you can keep

3:52:48talking. Go ahead.

3:52:49>> All right. So, um, one of the things uh

3:52:53that happens in that case is you build

3:52:56your new organization around a um

3:53:00anticipated level of funding. because of

3:53:03the fact that we were able to get

3:53:05repeated funding, our organization

3:53:09um grew quite a bit. We went from having

3:53:12a um a gallery for our members uh to

3:53:17show and sell their work at the landing

3:53:19to now we uh do 14 shows a year in four

3:53:23different venues. All of the shows that

3:53:26are done at the library are done uh

3:53:29jointly with us and our partner uh the

3:53:32Jacksonville Artist Guild. We have uh

3:53:37now taken that stability and turned that

3:53:41into um work in the community. We do

3:53:45murals for Title One schools. We do

3:53:49murals for uh nonprofit organizations.

3:53:53We work with the city. We uh have for

3:53:56the last three years uh done a a

3:54:00every Saturday morning for three years

3:54:03have done a um series of classes for

3:54:06teaching um different age groups um

3:54:10watercolor. So all of this has allowed

3:54:13us this funding has allowed us to really

3:54:17uh expand our capability.

3:54:20One of the things that uh that is

3:54:23concerning for us both this reductions

3:54:27that are happening this year and the

3:54:29fact that um we will be facing uh

3:54:33potentially as was just talked about the

3:54:36impact of amendment three. Um we need

3:54:40that time. People were talking about

3:54:42incremental time. We would love to have

3:54:45next year funded uh fully so that if the

3:54:49amendment passes, we're dealing with one

3:54:52issue at a time rather than trying to do

3:54:56some based on correction uh that comes

3:54:59from the change in the budget out of

3:55:01here and then another one that comes on

3:55:04top of that from the amendment three. uh

3:55:09council uh members uh Paluso and Johnson

3:55:12have uh put forth an amendment to uh do

3:55:17that to take the funding up to 100%

3:55:20bring it above the line. Uh we would

3:55:22like you to support them in that effort.

3:55:25Thank you all.

3:55:26>> Thank you. Next we have FA Diamond.

3:55:29Miss Diamond, are you here?

3:55:33Paul Guyoto,

3:55:38Alan Masten.

3:55:45Excuse me. Before you start, Mr.

3:55:46Mastston, I'm going to invite down to

3:55:47the front Lisa Heath, Adam Gray,

3:55:51Linda Allen,

3:55:53Reverend Madson Hill,

3:55:56and Jamie Travis Leonard. Go ahead, sir.

3:56:00>> My name is Alan Masten. I live in River

3:56:03Riverside and my address is on file.

3:56:07I walk my dogs nearly every day and I

3:56:10often stop at Lakaroon in Aendale for a

3:56:13coffee and I've become friendly with the

3:56:16people that work there.

3:56:18I brought up the subject of affordable

3:56:20housing with one of the young ladies.

3:56:22She told me that she and a friend had

3:56:24rented a two-bedroom apartment for

3:56:26$1,400,

3:56:28basically $700 a piece. The landlord

3:56:31decided to raise the rent to $2,200.

3:56:35That's a se 57% increase. Needless to

3:56:39say, neither of them could afford the

3:56:41extra $400 each for the rent. And she

3:56:45told me that she had to move in with her

3:56:47boyfriend who lives in Callahan.

3:56:50This is yet another example of someone

3:56:52who works in Jacksonville but can't

3:56:55afford to live here. these people who

3:56:57serve all of us

3:57:00in one way or another. So, please help

3:57:04people like her out. Pass the affordable

3:57:06housing trust fund amendment. Thank you.

3:57:09>> Thank you, sir. Next, we have Lisa

3:57:10Heath.

3:57:18>> Good evening. My name is Lisa Heath. My

3:57:20address is on file and I'm here today,

3:57:24like so many others, to ask you to

3:57:27please vote yes to restoring to the

3:57:29budget the $4.9 million for the

3:57:31affordable housing trust fund. I am

3:57:34painfully aware of some of the

3:57:37situations of friends here in

3:57:38Jacksonville who tell me that they have

3:57:41no choice but to live far away from

3:57:43where they work.

3:57:45they live in in small apartments where

3:57:47they still have to go in with multiple

3:57:49roommates. Uh that there are times when

3:57:52they have to skimp on health care,

3:57:54groceries, and other essentials of life

3:57:57uh just to make sure the rent is paid.

3:58:00And whose dreams of having a home of

3:58:01their own are looking pretty hopeless.

3:58:05When housing costs outpace wages, it

3:58:08puts our local workforce under severe

3:58:10financial strain. our nurses, our retail

3:58:14workers, first responders, teachers. Um,

3:58:18they all deserve better.

3:58:20These are the people who keep

3:58:21Jacksonville running from day to day.

3:58:24And we need these funds back in the

3:58:26budget to help create a stable

3:58:28foundation for hardworking families

3:58:31through building more affordable units,

3:58:33offering down payment assistance, and

3:58:36more.

3:58:37I'm asking you to please support the

3:58:39amendment to restore this critical item

3:58:41to our budget. Thank you.

3:58:44>> Thank you, ma'am. Next, we have Adam

3:58:45Gray,

3:58:53>> Council President Howland, and members

3:58:54of the city council. I'm Pastor Adam

3:58:56Gray. I'm lead pastor of Riverside

3:58:58Church at 2650 Park Street and

3:59:00co-president of IARE's executive board.

3:59:02Tonight, I ask you to support Councilman

3:59:04Matt Carluchi's amendment preserving the

3:59:06full $4.9 million for Jacksonville's

3:59:09affordable housing trust fund. I Care

3:59:12originally asked the city to invest $10

3:59:14million. This proposal does not reach

3:59:16that goal, but it is a real beginning,

3:59:18an opportunity to show that helping

3:59:20working families find affordable homes

3:59:22is a responsibility that Jacksonville

3:59:24takes seriously. This is not an

3:59:27open-ended expenditure. The amendment

3:59:29preserves these dollars in a dedicated

3:59:31trust fund. The city council retains the

3:59:34authority to examine the programs,

3:59:36establish safeguards, and determine how

3:59:38the money can do the most good. This is

3:59:40not careless spending. It is careful

3:59:44stewardship. These funds can help

3:59:46families overcome down pay the down

3:59:48payment standing between them and home

3:59:50ownership. They can help builders

3:59:53produce homes lower income families can

3:59:55afford and assist with utility

3:59:57connection costs that otherwise place

3:59:59homes beyond reach. We are helping

4:00:01people take the first step towards

4:00:03stable housing with council retaining

4:00:06the authority to require repayment

4:00:08recapture provisions, performance

4:00:10standards, and other protections

4:00:12appropriate to each program. Because

4:00:14these are teachers, nurses, police

4:00:16officers, firefighters, service workers,

4:00:19and young families. They work in

4:00:20Jacksonville. They are the heart of

4:00:22Jacksonville. And increasingly, the

4:00:25people who serve us cannot afford to

4:00:27live here. I understand the concern

4:00:30about Amendment Three and the

4:00:31uncertainty it could create for future

4:00:33re revenues. But $4.9 million is less

4:00:37than one quarter of 1% of this budget.

4:00:40Removing it will not solve a possible

4:00:43$300 million shortfall. It will only

4:00:46leave Jacksonville without a tool we

4:00:48urgently need. Council members are right

4:00:51to expect accountability for existing

4:00:54housing funds. So require clear

4:00:56standards, public reporting, deadlines,

4:00:58and council review. Earlier this year,

4:01:01this council voted 18 to zero to invest

4:01:04$5 million through a repayable loan that

4:01:06will help produce 240 affordable

4:01:09apartments. Tonight's proposal is

4:01:11different, but the principle is the

4:01:13same. local investment, responsible

4:01:16oversight, and measurable results. We

4:01:19applied that idea to rental housing.

4:01:23Now, we can preserve the resources

4:01:25necessary to apply it to a broader

4:01:27approach to affordable housing. Housing

4:01:29stability strengthens families,

4:01:31neighborhoods, employers, schools, and

4:01:35our tax base. It supports every other

4:01:38essential city service. Please support

4:01:40Councilman Carluchi's amendment and give

4:01:42working Jacksonville families a fair

4:01:45path towards a place to call home. Thank

4:01:47you.

4:01:48>> Thank you, sir. Next, we have Linda

4:01:49Ellen.

4:01:55>> Years ago, my husband and I went to

4:01:58>> Sorry. Name and address, please.

4:01:59>> Oh, I'm sorry. Linda Allen and at 1604

4:02:02Arcadia Drive, uh, Jacksonville, 32207.

4:02:06>> Thank you. years ago, my husband and I

4:02:08went to Hyde Park, Roosevelt's home, and

4:02:11we were touring the home, and we got

4:02:13into one wing of the place, and my

4:02:16husband said, "I'm not impressed with

4:02:17this place at all." And I said, "You're

4:02:20not? Why not?" And he said, "Because it

4:02:22looks like home." And I said, "Jerry,

4:02:24we're in the servants quarters."

4:02:28Most of us are in the servants quarters.

4:02:33Uh we are the workers. Um I'm not now.

4:02:36I'm retired or retired teacher. But boy,

4:02:39looking around Jacksonville, the trash

4:02:41collectors, the people who make my

4:02:44coffee, uh the people at the grocery

4:02:46store, all these folks, these make up

4:02:49Jacksonville. We're in the servants

4:02:51quarters. We're not old dead white

4:02:53presidents.

4:02:55So, I just hope and pray that that 4.9

4:03:00million will be back in the budget to

4:03:02help working people. Thank you. Thank

4:03:06you.

4:03:07>> Thank you, ma'am. Next, we have Reverend

4:03:09I'm sorry, Malson Hilt. Madison Hilt,

4:03:11you still here?

4:03:14All right. How about Jamie Travis

4:03:16Leonard?

4:03:18And I invite Kiana Bllelock,

4:03:21Reverend Ed, Ken Adams, Edmonds, Senior,

4:03:25Andrew Guthrie,

4:03:27Pastor Timothy Johnson, and Raphael

4:03:30Dolgado to please come to the front. Go

4:03:32ahead, ma'am.

4:03:34Good evening, city council. My name is

4:03:35Jamie Travis Leonard. My address is on

4:03:37file. I'm always here with you. So,

4:03:39you've heard a lot of people talk about

4:03:41they want the 4.9 million for affordable

4:03:43housing back in the budget. I agree with

4:03:45that. Um, if you look at our budget, I

4:03:47do, you know, I've reiterated this a few

4:03:48times in public comment. I reiterate it

4:03:50again. 53% of our budget, over a billion

4:03:52dollars, is dedicated to public safety,

4:03:54which is split between exactly two

4:03:57entities, JSO and JFRD. The largest

4:04:00price of our pie is going to two people.

4:04:02Now, if you took that 4.9 out of that

4:04:06piece, it would be 0.4%.

4:04:11So, we've nickel and dimed

4:04:1447% of our budget to pull out a total of

4:04:1723.4 million, which as our finance chair

4:04:20has said is uh 1.2% of the overall

4:04:24budget, but funnily enough is uh 2.2% of

4:04:28just public safety.

4:04:32So I ask again, why are we picking at

4:04:37our community services when we have a

4:04:39very large piece of the pie that we

4:04:42could make some adjustments to? It begs

4:04:46the question, uh, Councilman Diamond

4:04:48earlier talked about how our budget has

4:04:50ballooned. He mentioned a budget of I

4:04:53think 1.3 billion. Uh which funnily

4:04:55enough is very close to the number we

4:04:57are exclusively spending on public

4:04:59safety on two entities.

4:05:01I mean if we're really looking where

4:05:03ballooning is happening, that's the

4:05:05piece of the pie that got more money

4:05:06this year. That's the piece of the pie

4:05:09you all have taken no time to review and

4:05:12try to trim.

4:05:15Seems, you know, seems like an easy

4:05:19review to me.

4:05:22So, put the 4.9 million back in for

4:05:25affordable housing. Every almost every

4:05:27person tonight has come up to talk about

4:05:28it. Earlier, I asked you in public

4:05:30comment to listen to us to be good

4:05:32stewards. Putting that money back in is

4:05:35good stewardship. Honestly, I think you

4:05:36should put all 23.4 million in, but I've

4:05:41interacted with this council enough to

4:05:42know that that's a pipe dream for me.

4:05:45So, at the very least, you can put back

4:05:47in what the public is asking you

4:05:49repeatedly. They have all stayed. I have

4:05:52stayed. I'm usually here at night, but

4:05:53there's a crowd of people here who are

4:05:55not usually here this late.

4:05:58Listen to that crowd.

4:06:00Thank you.

4:06:02>> Thank you. Next, we have Kiana Bllelock.

4:06:05You still here?

4:06:07Reverend Ken Edmonds.

4:06:11Both of these support 504. I assume the

4:06:14affordable housing Andrew Guthrie

4:06:17followed by Pastor Timothy Johnson.

4:06:21>> Hi, Andrew Guthrie, 4815 Adalboroough

4:06:25Street. I'm the pastor at Riverside

4:06:27Avenue Christian Church. Uh, and I'm

4:06:29here to speak in favor of restoring the

4:06:324.9 million through the amendment. Um,

4:06:36wanted to tell you all a story about uh

4:06:38my church, like many churches, has

4:06:40people who sleep on our property at

4:06:41night from time to time. Um, that's just

4:06:43the reality of being a church. I've been

4:06:45a pastor for nearly 15 years now. And

4:06:47that's happened everywhere that I've

4:06:48been. And so about a month ago, we had a

4:06:51man who's in his 70s. His name is Billy.

4:06:53And we connected because he moved to

4:06:55Jacksonville from Evansville, Indiana.

4:06:57And I moved here last year from

4:06:59Lafayette, Indiana. So we were both

4:07:02hooers who chose Jacksonville. Love the

4:07:04city. Think it's beautiful. And I was

4:07:06asking him about I had to ask him to

4:07:08move on. We as a church are not equipped

4:07:10to have people sleeping on our property.

4:07:12We have children. We have families who

4:07:14are who are at the church. It's not

4:07:16sanitary. I can go through the number of

4:07:18reasons why we as a church are not

4:07:19equipped to allow people to sleep on our

4:07:22property night after night. And so I had

4:07:24a very civil nice conversation with this

4:07:26man. And I asked him, "What is your

4:07:29plan? Where are you going? What is your

4:07:31next step?" And he told me he his income

4:07:33was essentially social security was

4:07:36about 2500 a month. and he was having

4:07:38trouble finding a place to live in

4:07:40Jacksonville. There just were not enough

4:07:43options for him to go and find a place.

4:07:47When you think about the deposit, when

4:07:48you think about the cost, when you think

4:07:50about the things that we have to spend

4:07:52our money on to survive, housing was

4:07:54just one that he was having trouble

4:07:56finding enough units that fit into his

4:07:59budget. And I've met a lot of people in

4:08:02this age bracket. Somebody mentioned it

4:08:03earlier that the fastest growing group

4:08:05of homeless folks in the US are over the

4:08:07age of 55. And I always wonder when

4:08:10somebody who's in their 70s can't afford

4:08:12housing, how it is we tell them that you

4:08:14should go back to work. He's retirement

4:08:18age. He shouldn't have to do that. There

4:08:21should be places that are affordable for

4:08:23him to live. And so I always struggle

4:08:25with people in that situation about what

4:08:27do I tell them to do? I don't really

4:08:29know what to tell them to do. And so I'm

4:08:31here tonight because you can do

4:08:33something. You as the city council can

4:08:36put money in this budget. It's not

4:08:38enough to fix the problem, but as

4:08:39everybody has said, it is enough to take

4:08:42a step in the right direction. And so as

4:08:44a pastor in this community, as somebody

4:08:46who sees people who struggle with

4:08:48housing, I'm asking you tonight to do

4:08:50something to put this 4.9 million back

4:08:54in the budget. Thank you.

4:08:57>> Thank you, sir. Next we have Pastor

4:08:59Timothy Johnson. You here?

4:09:03What about Raphael Dato?

4:09:07I'm going to invite the following up

4:09:08then. Haley Gizer,

4:09:11Geraldo Delo, and Tom Maguire. Any of

4:09:16you here?

4:09:18Are you one of our speakers, sir? Ma'am,

4:09:21come on up.

4:09:26>> Good evening. My name is Haley Gieser.

4:09:28My address is on file. Um, I live in the

4:09:30Ortega area. I was born and raised in

4:09:32Jacksonville. I'm here tonight to speak

4:09:34in support of funding affordable housing

4:09:36in Jacksonville.

4:09:38I personally come from the privilege of

4:09:41generational wealth. And because of

4:09:43that, I've had access to affordable and

4:09:46stable housing. However, I recognize

4:09:48that not everyone has had that same

4:09:50opportunity. And I ask the council

4:09:52members to recognize the same.

4:09:56The majority of my friends work multiple

4:09:58jobs just to afford their rent. Some of

4:10:00those friends were unable to be here

4:10:02tonight because they're working and

4:10:04they're working to afford the very

4:10:05housing that we are here to discuss.

4:10:08Investing in affordable housing is

4:10:10investing in the people who are going to

4:10:12sustain all of the infrastructure and

4:10:14development this city has been pouring

4:10:15into. And I urge the council members to

4:10:18really consider the positive long-term

4:10:20impact affordable housing would have on

4:10:22Jacksonville's economy. Thank you.

4:10:25Thank you. Uh Gerald Delo,

4:10:31followed by Tom Magcguire.

4:10:36>> Good evening, council president and

4:10:37council members. My name is Gerald De

4:10:40Loach. My address is 13234 Joindy Road,

4:10:44Jacksonville. Zip is 32225.

4:10:49I'm a veteran.

4:10:52I'm retired.

4:10:55and I'm a home owner, so I pay property

4:10:58taxes.

4:11:00Because of my involvement with IARE and

4:11:02the Affordable Housing Trust, I had an

4:11:04interest in how you fund the issues that

4:11:09we want here in Jacksonville. So, I

4:11:12attended the finance committee meeting.

4:11:15I was surprised to see that process for

4:11:18my own with my own eyes.

4:11:21People made comments that what was in

4:11:23the budget didn't solve the problem, so

4:11:26it had to be cut.

4:11:29People made comments that there was no

4:11:31new items. We don't want to start

4:11:33anything new. So items had to be cut.

4:11:36The affordable housing trust funds were

4:11:38those items that was easy cut. It was

4:11:40lowhanging fruit. So it was cut.

4:11:44So the question I ask the council is,

4:11:47you can do stuff for the police

4:11:49department and it is welld deserved. You

4:11:52can do stuff for the fire department and

4:11:54it is welld deserved.

4:11:56When are you going to do stuff for the

4:11:58city, the people of Jacksonville?

4:12:02I've lived in Jacksonville for 30 years.

4:12:05My encounter with the police has been

4:12:08twice.

4:12:10My encounter with the fire department

4:12:12hasn't been has been zero even though a

4:12:14fire station is right down the road from

4:12:16where I live. My encounter with people

4:12:19who can't afford a decent safe place to

4:12:22live outnumber the number of police and

4:12:26fire department in Jacksonville.

4:12:29So, if we're going to do

4:12:31the most we can for as many as we can

4:12:36while we can, then put the affordable

4:12:39housing trust fund back in the budget.

4:12:41Thank you.

4:12:43>> Thank you, sir. Next, we have Tom

4:12:44Magcguire.

4:12:49>> Good evening. I am Tom Magcguire and uh

4:12:52my address is 4711 Herder Road,

4:12:55Jacksonville, Florida 32211

4:12:5732210, pardon me. Um these are indeed

4:13:01challenging times. Um we're looking at

4:13:04declining civ city revenues for some

4:13:07time. Amendment three is a threat to the

4:13:10budget and we're looking at a likely

4:13:12recession and continuing to deal with

4:13:15very bad inflation. Uh with all these

4:13:18challenges, creating a budget that meets

4:13:20city needs is a challenging task. I

4:13:23grant that freely. And while it may be

4:13:25tempting to cut social services and

4:13:28maintain core functions at current

4:13:30levels,

4:13:31uh that's may not be the right idea. The

4:13:36citizens of Jacksonville are already

4:13:38hardpressed. We see incre, as I

4:13:41mentioned last city council meeting, we

4:13:43see increased numbers of Jacksonville

4:13:47residents commuting to their work on

4:13:50children's toys. Uh like I say, very

4:13:54hardpressed. Um

4:13:57and these are the people that will be

4:13:59most impacted by the current inflation,

4:14:02the coming recession, as well as any

4:14:03city cuts to social services in this

4:14:06coming budget. Uh as mentioned in the

4:14:09last city council meeting and just

4:14:12moments ago here, um a minuscule cut in

4:14:17core city functions such as police and

4:14:19fire and rescue could fully res refund

4:14:23restore the funds for these social

4:14:26services and most importantly could

4:14:30fully fund uh this affordable housing. I

4:14:34ask you to do that now for the good of

4:14:38those people who are hardpressed in this

4:14:40city. Thank you, Mr.

4:14:42>> President. I've got four speaker cards

4:14:44of people who do not wish to speak. Lynn

4:14:46Markle, she supports the affordable

4:14:48housing amendment. Samantha series does

4:14:52not wish to speak. She opposes 504.

4:14:55Carara

4:14:57Guley, I believe it is, she supports the

4:15:00housing amendment. and Kalia Jensen also

4:15:04supports uh 504 but does not wish to

4:15:06speak with Mr. Mr. President that

4:15:08concludes the public hearing on 2026

4:15:11504.

4:15:12>> This public hearing is closed.

4:15:14>> I guess I'm not going to move the

4:15:15substitute just yet because

4:15:17>> we'll do we'll move the substitute.

4:15:18>> All right, I'll move the substitute.

4:15:20>> All right, we have a motion and a second

4:15:21on the substitute. What we'll end up

4:15:22doing is move the substitute likely pass

4:15:25it. Then we'll take the floor amendments

4:15:26one by one in order um of the sheets

4:15:29that we have uh before we move the bill.

4:15:30Uh with that, let me um uh uh turn it

4:15:34over to Mr. Layman.

4:15:35>> Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues.

4:15:36Thank you for considering this budget.

4:15:38Uh to members of the finance committee,

4:15:39thank you for all the hard work that you

4:15:41put into this budget, especially the

4:15:43past couple months. Uh I already said a

4:15:45couple of my comments when we were on

4:15:46the 501 bill. Uh but again, just to

4:15:48emphasize, how do we prepare with

4:15:50revenue uncertainty? For the first time

4:15:52in 14 years, we have a budget here that

4:15:54has less spending than the prior year.

4:15:57We also made changes within the CIP plan

4:15:59to where we're reducing our borrowing

4:16:00costs for next year. I want to do uh

4:16:02point out that we found consensus with

4:16:04the mayor in many areas. One of the very

4:16:06few new items that's in this year's

4:16:08budget is the $2 million to Wilson's

4:16:10Hospital to support their OBGYn and

4:16:12pediatric programs. This $2 million is

4:16:15actually going to result in a lot more

4:16:16than that. That's coming back to the

4:16:17community. Uh, Meals and Wheels. We're

4:16:19still fighting mistreats a year later,

4:16:21but last year, if you recall, city

4:16:23council doubled Meals on Wheels budget,

4:16:25which I always like to point out, and

4:16:27it's kept in there at the same historic

4:16:29high level in this budget. Affordable

4:16:32housing trust is a great example of

4:16:34sticking to our guidance of nothing new.

4:16:36although it was lumped together as a

4:16:37single line item in the budget called

4:16:39affordable housing trust. It was three

4:16:41items that were proposed and not

4:16:43approved last year and it would have

4:16:45been the first time they appeared in the

4:16:47504 budget bill. Uh, I'll have more to

4:16:49say when we get to affordable housing,

4:16:51but for all those out in the audience

4:16:53that came here to speak on affordable

4:16:54housing, I feel like the part that we're

4:16:56not communicating well enough is the $79

4:16:59million we've appropriated during this

4:17:01four years of our term, the $15 million

4:17:03additional for three specific

4:17:05development projects going on for

4:17:07affordable housing and the $9 million in

4:17:10pending legislation if you look at the

4:17:12current agenda. Uh, but again, that that

4:17:14adds up close to a hundred million

4:17:16dollars. We've been stuck on the 4.9

4:17:18million uh number for a while now. Uh

4:17:20and again, I'll have more to say to that

4:17:22when we get get to that floor amendment.

4:17:24Uh so again, I think we're in a good

4:17:26spot. Our budget's essentially flat. We

4:17:28don't know what November 3rd's going to

4:17:30bring. But I thought the best way that

4:17:32we can be prepared is to not grow

4:17:34government, but rather the phrase I've

4:17:36you used is rest on the plateau. Just

4:17:38kind of stay where you were the prior

4:17:39year and we'll see what happens on

4:17:41November 3rd. So, uh, with that, I don't

4:17:44really want to eat breakfast on the way

4:17:45home again like last year. Uh, I will be

4:17:47a no on all the floor amendments. It was

4:17:48my committee, my substitute. Uh, but

4:17:51I'll speak if needed if there are any

4:17:53corrections needed to what I hear or if

4:17:55I have input. So, again, thank you for

4:17:57consideration of this finance substitute

4:18:00for the next year's budget.

4:18:02>> Thank you, Mr. Landon. We have no other

4:18:04speakers. We'll vote on the substitute

4:18:05verbally and then, as I said, once that

4:18:07passes, we'll go to the floor amendments

4:18:09one by one. So all in favor of the

4:18:11substitute indicate by saying I. I. All

4:18:13against the substitute say no.

4:18:15Substitute passes. All right. With that

4:18:17uh we will go to the floor amendments.

4:18:19I'll recognize Mr. Aras floor amendment

4:18:21number one.

4:18:24>> Everyone should have the floor

4:18:25amendments in front of them.

4:18:26>> Thank you, Mr. President. So um as we

4:18:28discussed earlier, um this is the same

4:18:31um piece of legislation just different.

4:18:32It's a floor amendment to actually bake

4:18:34it into this year's budget 2627.

4:18:36Um, and it's essentially the Florida

4:18:38Association County League of Cities. And

4:18:40I did provide you all a handout as to

4:18:42the last couple years that they've

4:18:44actually had events. We actually had

4:18:45them come this last week to tour. They

4:18:47brought all six 66 other counties here

4:18:50to Jacksonville to showcase the

4:18:51innovative um, initiatives that we've

4:18:53been having here in our city. Um, and so

4:18:55with that, I'm actually going to ask you

4:18:57guys to support this. We just need 10

4:18:59votes for this. And I will not continue

4:19:01this conversation as we already held it.

4:19:03Thank you.

4:19:04Uh, you'll have to introduce You'll have

4:19:06to move it

4:19:07>> and I motion to move the bill.

4:19:09>> All right, we have a motion. Second, Mr.

4:19:10Diamond.

4:19:11>> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. I'm just

4:19:12going to hopefully just speak once and

4:19:14then there's a couple of these that I'll

4:19:15jump in on, but just to be clear, if you

4:19:18read on these columns, one, two, three,

4:19:20four, five, six columns over, you'll see

4:19:22the account from every single dollar for

4:19:25every single one of these amendments

4:19:26comes from the public safety contingency

4:19:29fund. So look at the police officers

4:19:31back there, the firefighters, the FOP,

4:19:34JFRD.

4:19:35Ask them whether or not they support

4:19:37this. Ask them if they want money from

4:19:39the public safety fund to go for all

4:19:41these things. Every single dollar, every

4:19:44single one of these things from the

4:19:45public safety fund. All right. Second

4:19:48thing, um I'm voting against all these

4:19:50again because we actually have a budget

4:19:52that spends less than we did last year.

4:19:54And last year we did a lot of work on

4:19:57finance and we just started adding

4:19:58everything back in. and everybody just

4:20:00fold and said, "Well, if we all just

4:20:02spend and spend spend, then everything

4:20:03is going to be fine." We still got a

4:20:04cut, which was great, but so much went

4:20:07back in. So, I'm just asking if you were

4:20:08on the finance committee and you voted

4:20:09no, please keep voting no because it

4:20:12made sense. Thank you.

4:20:14>> All right. Thank you. Uh we'll recognize

4:20:15Mr. Paluso and then we have Mr. Aries.

4:20:18>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh through the

4:20:19president to chair Lannon, there is a

4:20:22bill that you have uh currently moving

4:20:24through the process, correct? that would

4:20:26backfill any of the dollars taken out of

4:20:29the contingency fund that council member

4:20:31Diamond had brought up. Is that not

4:20:32accurate?

4:20:33>> I recognize Mr. Lane.

4:20:34>> Thank you, Mr. President. It is. And

4:20:36I'll just go ahead and get this out of

4:20:37the way and I apologize. It's a lengthy

4:20:40story of where we are with that

4:20:42contingency fund. Uh so I think those on

4:20:44the finance committee followed

4:20:45everything. Uh but really is a

4:20:47combination of multiple actions on the

4:20:49last budget hearing. uh we created this

4:20:51fund to combine everything that was

4:20:52remaining the special council consency

4:20:54as well as other items that we said were

4:20:57going to go to the reserves uh after we

4:20:59made those budgetary changes. Uh so

4:21:01that's what we plan to do and this was

4:21:04to not exceed 26 million. the 26 million

4:21:06were the three specific items the mayor

4:21:08put in her budget and we are going to

4:21:11support my separate legislation is

4:21:13directly funding that out of this and so

4:21:16every dollar that we go lower a dollar

4:21:18is going to have to be either debt

4:21:19funded because one of them is a CIP

4:21:20project reserves or some other funding

4:21:22source. Uh the reason that my bill was

4:21:26not submitted to come out of the

4:21:27reserves is that uh it would have had

4:21:29the effect of reducing the amount

4:21:31available for the completion grant bill

4:21:32transfer. If you recall, my bill was

4:21:34unanimously approved as 2026 213. And

4:21:38what it does is assuming we meet a

4:21:40certain level in the operating reserves

4:21:42each year, the next priority is to sweep

4:21:44that money towards unfunded cash

4:21:46completion grants. The auditors brought

4:21:48this up to me and they said rather than

4:21:50having the 26 million come out of

4:21:52reserves, let's have it come out of the

4:21:55difference between what the revenue and

4:21:57the expenditure line ends up. That way,

4:21:59our 930 2026 operating reserves balance

4:22:02is higher, allowing for a bigger

4:22:04transfer into unfunded completion grants

4:22:06next year. Again, I told you this is

4:22:08going to be a lot of accounting, but

4:22:10anyways, at the end of this, where we

4:22:11ended up is the $26 million is going to

4:22:14be fully funded. Again, that's for three

4:22:16specific items that JSO and JFRD

4:22:19requested, the mayor put in our budget,

4:22:20and we're going to support. It's going

4:22:22to ensure Yeah, I already said that.

4:22:24It's going to ensure that. And then also

4:22:26uh to remind everyone, the sheriff's

4:22:28office has a very large favorability in

4:22:31the current year budget that's going to

4:22:33drop to our reserves at the end of this

4:22:35month. So we're pretty much where we

4:22:37were when we began with what our

4:22:39expected operating reserve level will be

4:22:42at the end of this year. So I know that

4:22:44was a lot. I hopefully overwhelered your

4:22:46question, but uh let me know if not

4:22:49>> through the council president. As a

4:22:51fellow Navy man, you would know you just

4:22:52nuked that very well. Uh uh for those of

4:22:55you who don't understand that if you're

4:22:56a nuclear officer, you may get that. Uh

4:22:58they're good with numbers. Um no, that

4:23:01sounds fantastic. So basically, it's my

4:23:02understanding that we are meeting our

4:23:04commitment to police and fire. Um

4:23:06regardless if we take dollars out of

4:23:07these council,

4:23:08>> if you take out, you're taking it from

4:23:09that fund

4:23:10>> through the chair to Mr. Paluso. We will

4:23:13fund those $26 million. It becomes a

4:23:16suboptimal financial decision for this

4:23:18city if we take it out of there.

4:23:21>> It will still be funded though. See, see

4:23:22seems to be the point. And I believe

4:23:24that's the point that I'm trying to

4:23:25make. Um to that end, if you allow me

4:23:27another quick second, Mr. President, uh

4:23:29to the body, the finance committee did a

4:23:32great job this year. The finance

4:23:34committee is made of seven members. This

4:23:36is a 19 member body. This is a policy

4:23:38document that we get to be a part of.

4:23:40All of us. Changes can be made and they

4:23:42will be made and that's the way it's

4:23:44supposed to be. That's how we created

4:23:46this government. We even have a new

4:23:47council member that we didn't have at

4:23:49the beginning of this process. Allow for

4:23:51us to do our job. If changes are going

4:23:54to be made, it's up to 19 members to

4:23:55make that change. I just want to remind

4:23:57people of that. The finance committee

4:23:58did a brilliant job. Set us up for

4:24:00success. Now, it's going to be up to the

4:24:02rest of us to make changes as we see fit

4:24:04because we have constituent needs, too.

4:24:06Thank you.

4:24:08>> Okay, Mr. Aras, followed by Mr. Matt

4:24:10Carluchi.

4:24:11>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um,

4:24:14yeah, I heard the words from my co my

4:24:16colleagues. Here's the thing. Uh last

4:24:18year when I was finance chair under

4:24:20president, past president Carico, not

4:24:22only did we have tax relief, we lowered

4:24:24the millillage. Not only did we put

4:24:27money towards public safety contingency,

4:24:29$26 million, but we also didn't pull

4:24:32from the reserves. And guess what? We

4:24:33fully funded CSG, PSG, and other

4:24:36initiatives like this, right? I don't

4:24:38want any of my colleagues to be scared

4:24:40today by any of the the buckets that we

4:24:42titled or that the finance committee

4:24:44titled because that's just a bucket.

4:24:46We're still going to fully fund public

4:24:48safety. So, don't be scared by any of

4:24:50those words there. All right. I want to

4:24:52encourage you guys to support this, but

4:24:54not just this one. Let's look at all of

4:24:56these with the same set of eyes and make

4:24:58sure that we do right by what the people

4:25:01want. All right. So, with that being

4:25:03said, I encourage you guys to support me

4:25:05and uh move forward with the next one.

4:25:07Number two. Thank you.

4:25:10>> Okay. Mr. Matt Carluchi followed by Miss

4:25:13Clark Murray.

4:25:17Uh thank you, Mr. President. I uh fully

4:25:20support amendment number one. These are

4:25:23dollars that the city has uh always

4:25:26participated in. Uh the Duval County uh

4:25:31um league of whatever it's called, I

4:25:33can't remember, and Florida League of

4:25:35Cities. These are valuable um

4:25:38organizations that have helped our city

4:25:40uh tremendously.

4:25:42uh and to not participate in them to not

4:25:45participate them in it in them makes us

4:25:49a non-colgial

4:25:50city uh that is a leader of cities in

4:25:54the state of Florida. It's foolish.

4:25:56That's why they've always been in the

4:25:57budget and it should be in the budget.

4:26:00They were in the budget. They were taken

4:26:02out. They should go back in the budget

4:26:05and they should be in there henceforth

4:26:07and forever more. And if we were to add

4:26:09it on by uh if we were to join back by a

4:26:13separate budget, it shows the lack of

4:26:15commitment of Jacksonville

4:26:18to its state responsibility to our other

4:26:20counties and pure cities. I say it as

4:26:23simple as that. This is not a this is

4:26:26not a hard decision. And uh I commend

4:26:29Councilman Aras for uh stepping up with

4:26:33this amendment. I fully support it and I

4:26:35hope you will too.

4:26:39Miss Clark Murray.

4:26:40>> All right. Thank you, Chair. So, I want

4:26:42to reemphasize what council member area

4:26:45said. Don't be frightened by the funding

4:26:48source. If you look at it clearly, it

4:26:50says public safety contingency, but then

4:26:54you see in parentheses nonUN portion.

4:26:58And so, I did confer with our council

4:27:01auditors, Mr. Peterson, in regards to

4:27:03this fund. And if you could just

4:27:04re-emphasize, Mr. Peterson, what you

4:27:06said to me to everyone on the day

4:27:11>> through the president to council member

4:27:12Clark Murray. So in last uh as part of

4:27:16or during the same time as last year's

4:27:17budget, you as a council did approve $26

4:27:20million to be set aside for public

4:27:22safety uh a unionlike item. That $26

4:27:27million is being carried over as part of

4:27:29this budget. Then finance committee

4:27:31throughout all of their deliberations

4:27:33created a pot that normally would have

4:27:35been called council contingency but in

4:27:38uh their deliberations decided to fund

4:27:41the it's unfortunate but $26 million of

4:27:45projects that are public safety related.

4:27:48And so all those dollars that resulted

4:27:50at the end of the day was $23.4 $4

4:27:52million and they put it into a

4:27:54contingency labeled public safety

4:27:56contingency, but it's not related to the

4:27:58union items that you discussed last

4:28:00year. And so that 23.4 million is what

4:28:03is in the budget. And as council member

4:28:05Lanen described, he has introduced a

4:28:07bill to pull that out and fund the

4:28:09difference with the reserves to get to

4:28:11the 26 million.

4:28:13>> Thank you so much for that. So, is

4:28:14public safety going to suffer if we use

4:28:17this to fund uh Florida League of

4:28:19Cities? Um it it is not and I know that

4:28:22there was some emphasis placed during

4:28:25some of the finance committee meetings

4:28:27on well what are we getting for our

4:28:28money? What are we getting? Well, I got

4:28:30news for you. Clark Murray is one of the

4:28:31liaison now and I sent a law a long

4:28:34memorandum to President Howland in

4:28:36regards to what I learned and what

4:28:39Florida League of Cities talked about in

4:28:41regards to what we can take advantage of

4:28:43how we can use this our dues to get the

4:28:46information and get resources and

4:28:49to help our city. So it's like just

4:28:52about anything you get out of something

4:28:54what you put into it. And so I know

4:28:56previously there were some concerns

4:28:57about those who the the liaison. I went

4:29:00there and I took every meeting seriously

4:29:02and I brought back information that we

4:29:04can use so that we can make our city

4:29:06better. So I'm asking you to support the

4:29:09areas amendment. Thank you chair.

4:29:15>> Okay. We have no other speakers in the

4:29:17queue but um Mr. Peterson, if for

4:29:19example 10 million were to come out of

4:29:21that public safety reserve right now or

4:29:23this public safety contingency later to

4:29:25fund projects that 10 new 10 million

4:29:28would have to be found out of reserves

4:29:29in the future

4:29:31>> through to the president uh to fund to

4:29:34fully fund the $26 million that uh for

4:29:37those three projects would have to come

4:29:38from somewhere. Reserves would be one of

4:29:40the options depending uh debt is also an

4:29:42option because there is a $10 million uh

4:29:45capital project in that 26 million. So,

4:29:46in a time that we're trying to preserve

4:29:48reserves for revenue uncertainty, um

4:29:51that would be sub-optimal as Mr. Lean

4:29:53put it. Uh okay. Next, uh to Mr. Miller,

4:29:56followed by Mr. Carluchi.

4:30:00>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um I just

4:30:03wanted to to rise to recognize what our

4:30:07finance chair has led us through this

4:30:10process, which as many people have

4:30:12pointed out, it's been a very good

4:30:14process. And in my opinion, we got to a

4:30:17very good place. Um, and because of

4:30:22that, um, I don't want to change where

4:30:27that budget currently is by approving

4:30:31these amendments that have been listed

4:30:32here. Um, I'm I'm just not going to do

4:30:36it. We we went through a very detailed

4:30:40deliberative process and everyone had

4:30:43their opportunities to come and be part

4:30:45of that very extensive process and some

4:30:49did and many didn't. And so here we are

4:30:52now

4:30:54after we've done all that good hard work

4:30:56and we're at a point where I think we've

4:30:59we've come to a very fiscally

4:31:01responsible place and I'd like to keep

4:31:04us there. Um, so I would have supported

4:31:08there was there were people trying to

4:31:09help a couple of our colleagues in an

4:31:12earlier round to say there's current

4:31:14year funds.

4:31:16Are you listening? There are current

4:31:18year funds and you saw head nods around

4:31:21the dis

4:31:23and those leads weren't taken when we

4:31:27could have used some excess funds from

4:31:30this year rather than negatively

4:31:32affecting next year's budget.

4:31:36I I can't support that either. And so we

4:31:40say no, let's move forward and let's go

4:31:42to an amendment. So I I again I applaud

4:31:45not just because I was vice chair of

4:31:47finance this year, but I we had a

4:31:51finance chair who this year

4:31:54knows finance. He's worked it his life

4:31:58and he led us through a very responsible

4:32:01process. I'm not going to take a vote

4:32:04that does anything to undo this good

4:32:07fiscally responsible place we are with

4:32:10this current budget. So I will be a no

4:32:13on on all these amendments. Thank you,

4:32:15Mr. President.

4:32:16>> Well said.

4:32:18>> All right. There are no other speakers

4:32:19in the queue. We will take

4:32:22Oh. Oh, yeah. You came off. Yep. You're

4:32:24That's right, Mr. Kuchi.

4:32:28Uh, in all due respect, Councilman

4:32:30Miller, it's never wise to say and to

4:32:33dig your heels in until the last folks

4:32:35taken. Um,

4:32:40and uh the um

4:32:45I was so thrown off by that I kind of

4:32:47forgot where I what I wanted to say. But

4:32:50um

4:32:52you should take every bill up and every

4:32:54amendment up on its own merits. And this

4:32:57bill has the merits that it should be

4:33:00that it should be put back in.

4:33:03Um only needs 10 votes. Now, if you're

4:33:07so concerned about undoing what has been

4:33:11put together by a very good finance

4:33:13committee,

4:33:15um,

4:33:16then take the money that he had from

4:33:19another account and use that to fill it

4:33:21in. But the point I was going to make,

4:33:24I've heard so many times up here that

4:33:27public safety uh the only money that

4:33:30should be used in reserves is for public

4:33:32safety

4:33:34until at some point we had to use it for

4:33:37increasing a u a solid waste contractor.

4:33:42And then it became the only thing we

4:33:44should ever use u u reserves for is so

4:33:49uh is is public safety and picking up

4:33:52garbage.

4:33:53So I guess there'll come a time when

4:33:55something else becomes real important.

4:33:57It will add that to the list.

4:34:02Look

4:34:03uh we have plenty of reserves. they can

4:34:06be used to fill uh the holes that may be

4:34:11needed if some of these amendments pass.

4:34:14And I understand there's going to be a

4:34:16bill

4:34:16>> to fill that up anyway because reserves

4:34:19are going to be needed anyway to get the

4:34:2126 billion. So I recommend that we pass

4:34:25the bill. Thank you, Mr.

4:34:26>> and get back to where we need to be.

4:34:28>> Okay. No other speakers in the queue. We

4:34:30have a uh motion on the areas amendment

4:34:32number one. We'll take uh the vote by

4:34:35hand.

4:34:36All in favor of uh areas number one

4:34:39indicate by raising your hand. Um

4:34:41legislative services or OGC please

4:34:43count.

4:34:49>> All right. Item number one passes. Over

4:34:53to Councilman Carluchi with item number

4:34:55two.

4:35:04>> Yes, please.

4:35:12Mr. President, I'm going to use a little

4:35:14different tact tonight.

4:35:20So,

4:35:22I've got all kinds of reasons that I

4:35:24could share with you why putting this

4:35:274.9 million back into the budget from

4:35:30whence it came that we should vote for

4:35:33it. I've got all kinds of bullet points

4:35:36that explain the advantages,

4:35:39but they've all been spoken about

4:35:41tonight by the people that have been

4:35:43here by droves.

4:35:45So, this is what I'm going to say.

4:35:50Over the last three years,

4:35:52I've seen this council vote to spend

4:35:55hundreds of millions of dollars,

4:35:59hundreds of millions, maybe over a

4:36:01billion

4:36:03for a new Jaguar stadium, stadium of the

4:36:06future,

4:36:08the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences,

4:36:12and the offices

4:36:15for Gateway

4:36:17Jacks.

4:36:20for all of the different hotel and

4:36:23apartment complexes here in

4:36:25Jacksonville.

4:36:28And I have voted for every one of them

4:36:30because they play an important role in

4:36:33the future of Jacksonville.

4:36:36And I'm not ashamed to take up for any

4:36:39of those votes. I'm for moving the city

4:36:41ahead.

4:36:43And they are moving the city ahead. And

4:36:46we have some more apartments that are

4:36:48going to beautify our skyline and make

4:36:51Jacksonville

4:36:52more beautiful and add more momentum.

4:36:57We've spent millions upon millions for

4:36:59the University of Florida.

4:37:02That's all great stuff. I'm all for it.

4:37:06But you know what else is great stuff is

4:37:09helping workforce people that make 60 to

4:37:12$80,000.

4:37:14teachers, police officers, firefighters,

4:37:19working folk that need a little help

4:37:23getting over the gap so they can qualify

4:37:25for a mortgage and move into a home with

4:37:29their families,

4:37:314.9 million.

4:37:35And we've got and and we're having

4:37:37problems supporting that.

4:37:40Now, if I'm going to vote for all those

4:37:43big projects,

4:37:45how in the world can I or any of us

4:37:51leave the little guy behind?

4:37:54Now, I have a pinchant for taking up for

4:37:57the little guy,

4:38:00and I'm not about to leave them behind

4:38:03while I'm voting full force and being

4:38:06publicly

4:38:07supportive of the big part.

4:38:09>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Carluchi. Uh,

4:38:10Mr. Landon, you're recognized.

4:38:12>> I think you get my point.

4:38:14>> I didn't hear a motion or a second on

4:38:15your bill. Make the motion, please.

4:38:18>> Second.

4:38:18>> All right, we have a motion or a second.

4:38:19Mr. Lon.

4:38:21>> All right. Thank you, Mr. President. So,

4:38:23uh, colleagues, you should have gotten a

4:38:24sheet that looks like this from the

4:38:26auditors. And so, I'm going to be

4:38:28addressing my comments from that. Uh,

4:38:30and I kind of mentioned this again. We

4:38:32seem to be only talking about 4.9

4:38:34million and not the vast amount of money

4:38:37that we have devoted to affordable

4:38:39housing the past four years. So if

4:38:41you're looking at the spreadsheet first

4:38:43go to the bottom right you'll see 79

4:38:45million. That is the total amount of

4:38:47money looking at all the ordinances on

4:38:49this spreadsheet that have had an

4:38:50affordable housing component we have

4:38:52done on this council term. A lot of it

4:38:54is grant money but some of it a good

4:38:56chunk of it is also general fund

4:38:58dollars. Uh next, if you look at just uh

4:39:01fiscal year 2627,

4:39:03we've already appropriated $15 million.

4:39:06And then if you go down to the left,

4:39:08you'll see these are three specific

4:39:09projects we've approved. The money

4:39:11simply hasn't been appropriated yet

4:39:13because it's driven by a construction

4:39:14timeline. So that's 30 million. Then if

4:39:17you look at the agendas, uh Council

4:39:19Member Carichi, you got a $6 million

4:39:21affordable housing initiative and

4:39:22there's another roughly three million

4:39:24one on the agenda as well. That gets

4:39:27that gets us to 39 million uh right

4:39:29there. Next, I want to draw your

4:39:31attention to the ordinance column. If

4:39:33you scroll down on the ordinance, what

4:39:34you don't see too often is 504. That's

4:39:37because we have not really put specific

4:39:40items as placeholder dollars in the 504

4:39:43budget bill, but rather a good example

4:39:45of what we've done rather than just

4:39:46grant appropriations are the specific

4:39:49projects. And again, down there on the

4:39:50bottom left, those are three major

4:39:52projects that are going to be about 500

4:39:54units of affordable housing. Those are

4:39:57items that were bills that were

4:39:58introduced. We debated. We knew where

4:40:00they were going. We knew what the mix of

4:40:01different unit types would be. Uh all

4:40:04that stuff before we took a final vote.

4:40:06Very similar to the two items that are

4:40:08pending uh our approval right now for

4:40:10about $9 million. Uh so again, drawing

4:40:13your attention to 504. Our first year we

4:40:16had $400,000 for our list contribution.

4:40:18We have that every year. We also had

4:40:20something $350,000 for the Jacksonville

4:40:23Community Land Trust. The next year in

4:40:25the budget bill, just $400,000.

4:40:28The next year, last year, we had

4:40:29$400,000 when it left finance. Council

4:40:32member Carluchi, you had a successful

4:40:33floor amendment for $900,000

4:40:36uh on that night. And then this year

4:40:38from the finance committee, the

4:40:40substitute, it looked a lot like it did

4:40:42in prior years in regards to just having

4:40:44the LISK funding there. So again, I just

4:40:46want to make the point that we have done

4:40:48when you add that all up, I think we're

4:40:49getting close to hund00 million of

4:40:51affordable housing initiatives, but all

4:40:54we've heard the past couple of months is

4:40:55talking about this 4.9 million, which

4:40:58again would be the first time we have

4:41:00specifically budgeted that in the 504

4:41:02budget bill. That was the conversation

4:41:04in finance going back to let's not start

4:41:07new things this year. We have some

4:41:09revenue uncertainty. Let's get through

4:41:11that. Let's have a flat budget. And that

4:41:13was why by a vast majority vote, we did

4:41:16not include those proposed line items

4:41:18that add up to 4.9 million.

4:41:22>> I'm gonna pass the gavl to Vice

4:41:24President Carage.

4:41:28>> All right, Council President Howen,

4:41:29you're recognized.

4:41:31>> Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We all

4:41:32just heard Councilman Lanen here. This

4:41:35council, since the critical quality of

4:41:37life committee's work, has invested $79

4:41:39million in affordable housing

4:41:41initiatives. These investments plus

4:41:43hundreds of millions more in taxexempt

4:41:46bonds are definitive proof that this

4:41:48council is indeed working aggressively

4:41:50to tackle the affordability issue. In

4:41:52fact, if you look on this agenda at item

4:41:55number 148, our own agenda tonight, 2026

4:41:580752,

4:42:00there is an item to support $2.8 million

4:42:02to support 180 affordable housing units.

4:42:05And my guess it passes. Why? because

4:42:07this council has always when it's

4:42:09encountering a targeted opportunity to

4:42:12increase affordable housing has been

4:42:13willing to do it. Um we also have in

4:42:16here funding in the east side will be

4:42:18the last bill we take up tonight for

4:42:19affordable housing and we already passed

4:42:22property disposition for certain

4:42:24properties for affordable housing. Um

4:42:26that was already passed today. Don't say

4:42:28we don't try to take care of the

4:42:30affordability crisis. Saying that is

4:42:32disingenuous and it's political. Um, I

4:42:35also want to note we started this whole

4:42:37budget process out saying that what

4:42:39matters to us in an era of revenue

4:42:41uncertainty is defining and supporting

4:42:44the core, protecting the core so we can

4:42:46fund initiatives that are important to

4:42:47us. We are fully funding everything the

4:42:50mayor asked for indigent healthcare,

4:42:53Medicare, and Medicaid to nearly $100

4:42:56million in this. We're also funding

4:42:58everything that was asked in the

4:42:59proposed budget for kids after school

4:43:01services over $60 million. And so when

4:43:05we're arguing over 4.9 million in

4:43:07affordable housing, again, it's

4:43:09disingenuous. The reason I want to hold,

4:43:11and I will also vote no on all these

4:43:13floor amendments, the reason I want to

4:43:14hold is because we have reduced the

4:43:17curve of government spending, and we've

4:43:19done it in a way that still fully

4:43:21supports public safety, critical

4:43:23infrastructure, and core services. still

4:43:25fully supports nearly hund00 million of

4:43:27indigent care for our city's citizens,

4:43:30medical care, and over 60 million for

4:43:32our city's youth. We also, as Councilman

4:43:35Lan said, always support affordable

4:43:37housing initiatives. If you look at what

4:43:39we've cut right now, we just added back

4:43:41250K. We're standing at about 23.2

4:43:44million cut. That puts us just below on

4:43:47spending where we were next year.

4:43:48There's no more room. So if we want to

4:43:50say that we're being fiscally

4:43:52responsible and we've reduced the growth

4:43:54curve in an era of revenue uncertainty

4:43:57without taking a bite out of critical

4:43:59core services, we can pass this budget

4:44:02as it stands right now and we can feel

4:44:04good about it and we'll probably be one

4:44:05of the few counties in the state of

4:44:07Florida that's actually delivered a

4:44:08budget that's less than it was last

4:44:10year. I think with amendment three

4:44:12looming, maybe we didn't go as far. I

4:44:14would hope that Councilman Salem who

4:44:16wanted $100 million um more cut out

4:44:18wouldn't want to add anything else else

4:44:20back in on this on these floor

4:44:21amendments. I would hope others wouldn't

4:44:23because I think we've reached a period

4:44:25where we have found $30 million 23 cut

4:44:28another six uh plus that adds up to 30

4:44:31in the amendment three contingency in

4:44:32the case of amendment 3 failing um or

4:44:35rather passing. And what we have done is

4:44:38gotten this pos uh shor up the reserves

4:44:40and put this city in a good position

4:44:42ahead of what could be uh dire situation

4:44:46next year. And I'm proud of the budget

4:44:47that's passed, but it means holding

4:44:49tight because we've funded the core.

4:44:51Thanks.

4:44:54>> All right, next up, Council Member Plus.

4:44:57>> Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Thank you

4:44:58for those words, Mr. President. I first

4:45:00want to say a lot of people came up here

4:45:02and spoke. Many of you were from

4:45:04District 7, and it warms my heart to see

4:45:08constituents from District 7 who spent

4:45:11the time and energy on a Tuesday evening

4:45:14to come down here and speak to us about

4:45:16an issue that you care about. Many of

4:45:17you are friends and neighbors and and

4:45:20community leaders, and you came here

4:45:23tonight to say something that that meant

4:45:26a lot to you.

4:45:28to my colleagues. Listen, the reason

4:45:32we're talking about the 4.9 million, and

4:45:34you act as if that's not that much

4:45:35money, and frankly, it isn't, but the

4:45:37reason we're talking about it is because

4:45:39we haven't done stuff like this before,

4:45:41and we need to. Most of the dollars on

4:45:43this list are from state and federal

4:45:44sources. It's because the city of

4:45:46Jacksonville should be the tip of the

4:45:48spear when it comes to these issues. And

4:45:50the reason why we're not applauding as

4:45:53much as some of us may want to all of

4:45:55these successes, it's because they're

4:45:57not seeing it.

4:46:00In my district alone, there's not a day

4:46:02that doesn't go by where I don't get a

4:46:03phone call about someone sleeping on the

4:46:06street. You heard from one of my

4:46:07constituents, Jim Schwarz, talk about

4:46:09Memorial Park, people who are sleeping

4:46:11there.

4:46:13It's it's it's a tragedy. And to think

4:46:17that we are going to nickel and dime

4:46:20something that is so important to our

4:46:22constituents is just bizarre to me.

4:46:264 point I mean 10 million over four

4:46:29years is a drop in the bucket. That is

4:46:32truly nothing. That is laughable

4:46:34compared to what we see in other major

4:46:36counties and cities. Truly,

4:46:41the reason we're in financial straits is

4:46:43because of Washington DC and Tallahassee

4:46:46and the city of Jacksonville.

4:46:50We're the ones who sit through these

4:46:51committees and these city council

4:46:53meetings where our constituents talk to

4:46:55us regularly and tell us what they need.

4:46:56I've been to Tallahassee. Half half the

4:47:00representatives and senators don't show

4:47:01up to those committee meetings and

4:47:02people aren't really able to speak as

4:47:04much as they do here. In DC, you never

4:47:06see people speak with our constituents.

4:47:08We have to hear from it all the time.

4:47:09And what we hear consistently is support

4:47:12us.

4:47:14Things are too expensive. Things are too

4:47:16difficult. It's hard to pay rent. And

4:47:18you want to possibly cut the millage

4:47:20rate when there's dollars that go into

4:47:22rental assistance.

4:47:25We are not funding to the level that we

4:47:27should. And we are asking for the bare

4:47:30minimum 4.9 million

4:47:33for projects that are well thought out

4:47:35and have been offered by this mayor and

4:47:37the administration, a very popular

4:47:40mayor. We have a new council member who

4:47:42was elected and one of the things she

4:47:44ran on was affordability and affordable

4:47:46housing.

4:47:48I get it. It's always good to say we

4:47:50invest and I'm not saying we didn't. But

4:47:52you look at what we put into police and

4:47:54fire and the Jaguars. That's investment.

4:47:58More than 4.9 million would be a massive

4:48:00investment. Let's just do the bare

4:48:02minimum. Vote this up.

4:48:02>> All right. Thank you, Dr. Salem,

4:48:04followed by Miss Pitman.

4:48:05>> Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to

4:48:07offer an amendment, but I want to

4:48:09explain my u my amendment to Council

4:48:12Member Carluchi's.

4:48:14I've always been supportive of down

4:48:16payment assistance. I think that's the

4:48:18most effective way to get somebody into

4:48:20a home. And I did my research

4:48:24to to make fun of my colleague here and

4:48:28found out over the last six years

4:48:30through down payment assistance we have

4:48:32put 620 people into a house.

4:48:36Pretty damn impressive.

4:48:39Um I've also been very supportive of

4:48:41eviction diversion which is coming up

4:48:44later. So, I would like to modify this

4:48:48bill to put more towards down payment

4:48:51assistance. And I hope council member

4:48:52Carl Lucha be will be comfortable with

4:48:54these. It's fairly simple to move the

4:48:571.5 million to 2 million for down

4:49:00payment assistance to reduce the stack

4:49:04from 2.4 million to 1.4. As you probably

4:49:08know, we've got 20 million that the

4:49:10foundation and and others are putting

4:49:13together. So, I think that's of a I'd

4:49:16eliminate it completely, but I didn't

4:49:18want to change it too much. So, reduce

4:49:20that from 2.4 to 1.4 and increase the

4:49:24utility tap assistance, which was a new

4:49:26issue for me. I actually called JEA and

4:49:30educated myself. That's a real problem.

4:49:33People can get into a house, but then

4:49:34they can't get the utilities hooked up

4:49:37and move that from 1 million to 1.5.

4:49:42>> That So, that would be my your motion.

4:49:44You didn't need a second.

4:49:46>> Uh but for clarity on that motion before

4:49:48we debate it, are you suggesting an

4:49:50alternative funding source or still

4:49:51suggesting the public safety?

4:49:52>> Same funding source. I all I did was

4:49:55modify the numbers.

4:49:58>> Uh I've got a queue. You can get on the

4:50:00queue. Um and I'll ask all of them if

4:50:02they're on the Salem amendment.

4:50:05Yep. You need to wave a rule. Will you

4:50:07please explain, Mr. Fabos?

4:50:10>> Yes. Thank you, uh Mr. President. I

4:50:12would recommend this is a relatively

4:50:13simple amendment to explain, but there

4:50:16is a rule, council rule 3.303, that

4:50:18requires that amendments, including

4:50:20amendments to amendments, be prepared in

4:50:21advance. So, if you would like to

4:50:23proceed, I can read into the record the

4:50:25changes that would be made. But I would

4:50:27recommend you first wave the rules so

4:50:28that we don't have to table the item

4:50:30while I work with the auditors to

4:50:31actually draft the amendment to the

4:50:33amendment. And if that's seconded and

4:50:35approved, then I can read into the

4:50:36record what the amendment proposes.

4:50:38>> It's a motion to wave the rule. We need

4:50:40>> rule 3.303. 303. Correct.

4:50:42>> Who made the motion?

4:50:44>> All right, we have a motion and second

4:50:45to weigh the view uh the rule. We'll

4:50:48take that vote verbally. All in favor of

4:50:49waving the rule, indicate by saying I.

4:50:51>> All against saying no. No. Um and the

4:50:54reason I voted no uh m Dr. Salem is you

4:50:57had uh six weeks and you attended every

4:50:59single finance budget hearing. I would

4:51:00have expected this to have come up

4:51:01before that. Now we've got to do work on

4:51:03the deis. That should be committee work.

4:51:04Uh Mr. Davis.

4:51:06>> Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. So, I

4:51:07only heard two nos, which means you did

4:51:09meet the 13 vote threshold to suspend

4:51:11the rule with the result of that vote.

4:51:13Um, so if you you have the Carluchi

4:51:15floor amendment in front of you. So,

4:51:17basically in each instance where you see

4:51:19the number 1.5 million or $1,500,000,

4:51:23which is in item number one, as well,

4:51:26it's at the at the top. It's also listed

4:51:28in the interfund transfer in at the from

4:51:31table. It's listed in the two table

4:51:33under down payment assistance

4:51:35miscellaneous grants and aids and it's

4:51:37also listed under the revised second

4:51:40revised schedule A and the second

4:51:41revised schedule B. In every instance

4:51:43where you see 1.5 million, the amendment

4:51:46would be revised if approved to change

4:51:48that to 2 million. Same with each

4:51:50instance where you see 2.4 million for

4:51:52capital stack funding. The amendment

4:51:54would be revised to reflect 1.4 million

4:51:57for capital stack funding in each of

4:51:59those instances. And with respect to

4:52:01attainable housing utility tap fees, the

4:52:04amendment would be revised if the

4:52:05amendment to the amendment is approved

4:52:07to reflect that the 1 million would

4:52:09become 1.5 million. And if the council

4:52:11is comfortable proceeding on that, then

4:52:13that is what we would do if the

4:52:15amendment to the amendment were to be

4:52:17approved.

4:52:20>> Uh, okay. Stand, Mr. Kuchi, and give us

4:52:22your point of clarification, please.

4:52:24I just got a sheet of paper from Corey,

4:52:28my council aid, that has those numbers

4:52:31down at the bottom of this sheet. If

4:52:32that would help

4:52:35through the chair to council member

4:52:36Carluchi. No, what what I like to do is

4:52:39whenever we wave a rule to not require

4:52:41an amendment to be in writing is I like

4:52:43to at least read to the record or to the

4:52:45council how the actual floor amendment

4:52:47document would be changing, which is why

4:52:49I was referring to your floor amendment

4:52:50document with respect to those changes.

4:52:52And if the council, again, if the

4:52:54council is comfortable that they

4:52:55understand that the amendment to the

4:52:56amendment is affecting those numbers

4:52:58only, then then you can proceed to take

4:53:00up the amendment to the amendment

4:53:02without me having to put it in. Right.

4:53:03>> Did what was the last vote? Was it

4:53:05approved to be able to do that or what?

4:53:07>> Yes. So, the last vote that you took was

4:53:09to wave or suspend council rule 3.303,

4:53:11which requires these items to be in

4:53:14writing. And so if you when you

4:53:16suspended that that means that I don't

4:53:18have to go ask that the council table

4:53:20this item while I draft an amendment to

4:53:23the amendment. You can move proceed

4:53:24forward on your amendment.

4:53:26>> Okay.

4:53:27>> With the verbal explanation of what the

4:53:29amendment to your amendment is

4:53:30accomplishing.

4:53:30>> Then my question Mr. Chair is can I

4:53:33respond as to supporting that or not

4:53:35without using up my term since he was

4:53:38asking if I would support that.

4:53:40>> Yes.

4:53:41>> Okay. I do support that and I actually

4:53:44like that because I do like the down

4:53:46payment assistance and the tap in. Thank

4:53:48you.

4:53:49>> All right, we're going to go uh line by

4:53:51line on the queue. Um and it's got to be

4:53:53to the

4:53:55Salem amendment. It's first Miss Pitman,

4:53:57you speak on the Salem amendment or you

4:53:58want to wait? No. Okay. Uh Mr. Diamond

4:54:01on the Salem amendment. All right. Uh

4:54:03Mr. Carluchi already spoke. Dr. Johnson

4:54:05on the Salem amendment.

4:54:08Mr. Gay on the Salem amendment.

4:54:11Mr. Aras on the Salem amendment. Mr.

4:54:13Carico on the Salem amendment. Miss uh

4:54:16Stfopoulos, should you still speak on

4:54:17the Salem? Okay. Um Mr. Pusso on the

4:54:19Salem amendment. Thank you, Mr.

4:54:21President. I I would just like to say

4:54:22there's a famous scene from the film the

4:54:25Dr. Seuss's the Grinch who stole

4:54:28Christmas when you saw the Grinch's

4:54:30heart grow. I feel like I just saw that

4:54:33in real time. Uh

4:54:38through the president to council member

4:54:39Salem. Thank you, good sir. I very much

4:54:41support this amendment.

4:54:44>> Uh I actually while we're still on it

4:54:46before we take a vote, Dr. Salem, um can

4:54:49you repeat how the three areas are

4:54:50shifting? I think you're emphasizing

4:54:52more on uh down payment assistance.

4:54:54Correct.

4:54:55>> That is correct. The the the down

4:54:57payment assistance is going from 1.5 to

4:54:592 million. The capital stack is going

4:55:02from 2.4 to 1.4 4 and the utility uh tap

4:55:08assistance is going from 1 to 1.5. So it

4:55:11still totals 4.9 million.

4:55:14>> Do we know I'm not sure if it since

4:55:16we're doing committee work here if the

4:55:17administration knows um who our vendors

4:55:19are for the down payment assistance and

4:55:21the and the attainable housing utility

4:55:23tab in

4:55:26or do we administer them ourselves?

4:55:31>> Dr. Uh

4:55:34>> yes. Yeah. Go ahead, Josh.

4:55:37Who our vendors are for those for those

4:55:39three programs

4:55:40>> through the council president to the

4:55:41council president? Um uh we administer

4:55:44the utility tap-in program in house. So

4:55:46it's monitored. Uh we also uh uh we do

4:55:50all the programs in house. DPA is in

4:55:52house with uh area lenders, uh real

4:55:54estate agents. Um, to get on the DPA

4:55:56list, you actually have to have a real

4:55:58estate agent and be actively looking for

4:56:01housing, and they're the ones who put

4:56:03the uh applicant on our list. So, it's

4:56:06not a free-for-all. You literally have

4:56:07to be going through the process of

4:56:09finding housing. So, all three of those

4:56:10programs uh are run in house and we

4:56:13provide that data to the council yearly.

4:56:15>> All right. Thank you. Um, do we have

4:56:16anyone else on the queue who wants to

4:56:18speak on the same amendment? Um, Mr.

4:56:22>> Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to uh

4:56:25support the shift in the uh Salem

4:56:27amendment for a couple of reasons. Um

4:56:30Clarence Jordan who wrote the uh Cotton

4:56:32Patch gospel said poor people don't need

4:56:36charity, they need capital. Uh they

4:56:40don't need case workers, they need

4:56:41co-workers.

4:56:43uh in my own personal experience when I

4:56:45was trying to buy my first home with a

4:56:47college degree earning about 15 20,000 a

4:56:51year it was one of the most difficult

4:56:52path and so with this increase in down

4:56:56payment assistance and and Mr. Salem has

4:56:59already stated uh the results of how

4:57:03many property how how many folks are now

4:57:05homeowners. It gives us the opportunity

4:57:08to put people in homes those who desire

4:57:12to have a home to become taxpaying

4:57:14citizens to create generational wealth.

4:57:18And for that reason, for those reasons,

4:57:20I'm very I was sitting here very

4:57:23ambivalent and and um trying to work uh

4:57:27toward the middle ground. But I I like

4:57:29the Salem amendment. I think it's the

4:57:32the right shift if we're going to

4:57:34support this to put the emphasis on down

4:57:37payment where folks can actually own a

4:57:39home, those who want to own a home. And

4:57:41so I'm going to support that.

4:57:44Anyone else have the same

4:57:49Thank you, chair. I'm just going to echo

4:57:50some of the sentiments that council

4:57:52member Amaro said um through the

4:57:56president to everyone. I think about my

4:57:58mom and the fact that we lived in

4:58:00Cleveland Arms, which is a project is

4:58:02it's now called Vista Landing, but how

4:58:06she worked really hard in order to get

4:58:09us out of that project. And one of the

4:58:12ways that she was able to do that was

4:58:13that she got assistance from a program

4:58:15that the city had during that time. So I

4:58:18am a witness to the fact that these

4:58:21programs work and they helped to lift

4:58:23people up and especially when it comes

4:58:24to home ownership because she was once

4:58:27again she was able to pass that home

4:58:28onto her children and that helped us

4:58:30financially. So, I am going to be

4:58:32supportive of the Salem amendment. And

4:58:34of course, we don't want to steal any

4:58:36thunder from the great past president

4:58:39Matt Carluchcci, who's my favorite

4:58:41council representative. You have such a

4:58:42big heart for people and I appreciate

4:58:44it. Oh, of course, Jimmy. You know, I

4:58:45love you. Okay. So, thank you so much,

4:58:48President Hen.

4:58:49>> All right. Uh, thank you, Miss Clark

4:58:51Murray. So, there's a number of people

4:58:52on the queue. I need to make sure you're

4:58:54on the Salem amendment. If you are,

4:58:55raise your hand, please. All right.

4:58:57We'll go u Miss Pitman followed by Mr.

4:58:59Gaffne.

4:59:03So, I was going to wait, but since this

4:59:06is my last meeting, first of all, I want

4:59:09to thank the finance committee, the work

4:59:12that you did,

4:59:14>> but I would say for the Salem

4:59:18amendment,

4:59:19this bill is going to help more ordinary

4:59:23people, and I want to say that again,

4:59:27ordinary people.

4:59:29And it will help prevent

4:59:34crisis

4:59:36cuz right now before that we were

4:59:38talking

4:59:40and I want to say that again. We are

4:59:43preventing a housing crisis.

4:59:48We needed more money. We always need

4:59:50more money for housing

4:59:52and utilities.

4:59:55Don't forget that. But I'm going to take

4:59:57the housing tonight.

4:59:59We need places where people can lay

5:00:02their heads in their own beds.

5:00:06And I say that because someone mentioned

5:00:10people living on the streets. You could

5:00:13have a job today and lose your job

5:00:17tomorrow.

5:00:19And a lot of the people in this

5:00:21community don't know. Now, these are

5:00:23these are great programs,

5:00:27but if you ain't in the know, you don't

5:00:29know about them.

5:00:32So

5:00:33again, as we do this and pass this

5:00:37tonight,

5:00:40I want to make sure that we have a

5:00:41marketing, and I say that every time. We

5:00:45need a marketing campaign to let the

5:00:48community know what we have in place.

5:00:53And if it's not the just the city, we

5:00:55need to have

5:00:57churches or satellite offices in the

5:01:00community so our residents can take part

5:01:05and feel that they are safe and know

5:01:08they have a place to stay because this

5:01:11is a complex issue. Because if we don't

5:01:16resolve it, guess what? We going to have

5:01:19more homelessness.

5:01:22And homelessness

5:01:24is real. I've done it for 36 years now.

5:01:30And people that become homeless, they

5:01:33look like me and you.

5:01:35And they don't know all of the places

5:01:38that they need to go to. And I'm going

5:01:40tell you this.

5:01:42Last week, last Thursday and Friday,

5:01:48one of our largest complexes

5:01:51were handing out eviction notices

5:01:55and the people had no place to go. So,

5:01:58guess what's going to happen? They going

5:02:00to become what? Homeless. And I want to

5:02:03say this.

5:02:04>> All right, M.

5:02:05>> Please, please, please let me say this.

5:02:07If we vote tonight, which I think we may

5:02:11have the votes,

5:02:13>> so what matters to the people matters to

5:02:15us. This will be a comeback. I'll say

5:02:19that a comeback, not a setback. Thank

5:02:21you,

5:02:21>> Mr. Gaffne.

5:02:24>> Thank you, President Holland. I'll be

5:02:26brief. I'm not sure if I'm in the right

5:02:27pro um proper posture to um offer this,

5:02:30but I want to offer an amendment to

5:02:32another amendment. The only reason I say

5:02:33this, I think what make make this bill

5:02:35whole is utilities. And the only reason

5:02:38I say I think we need to add utilities

5:02:40to this bill because we all see what JA

5:02:42is going through. I'm pretty sure you

5:02:44guys have seen it. JA is rising every

5:02:46day light bills, um, AC bills. I think

5:02:50what I'm proposing the offer amendment

5:02:52to amendment is take, look at my friend

5:02:56Rory,

5:02:57take Councilman S, I want you to hear me

5:02:59out. um maybe from 500,000

5:03:03a 100 all I'm offering is 500,000 take a

5:03:06100,000 for utilities and it's one thing

5:03:11I offer housing but it's a lot of

5:03:13individuals need utilities as well and

5:03:15I'm pretty sure you guys have seen it. I

5:03:17mean I I think this this this bill have

5:03:20the votes now but I definitely think we

5:03:22need to add utilities because JA is it's

5:03:24rising. We talking about affordability.

5:03:26You got to have utility in there. So you

5:03:28got you got down payment assist assist

5:03:31assistance, you got eviction diversion

5:03:33if it pass a few minutes from now, you

5:03:36got capital down stack. I think we need

5:03:38to add utilities. So what I'm offering

5:03:40and I'm not I'm not sure if I'm in a

5:03:41proper posture. I want to offer

5:03:44amendment to amendment that CCA

5:03:47we we can't offer utilities in this bill

5:03:51to OGC through the chair.

5:03:53>> Mr. Fabush your re

5:03:54>> through the president to council member

5:03:55Gaffne. You can only have one amendment

5:03:56to the amendment pending at any time.

5:03:58So, the Salem amendment needs to be

5:04:00disposed of first and then you would be

5:04:02able to offer your amendment to the

5:04:04amendment. However, you would have to

5:04:05identify where the that $100,000 is

5:04:08coming from. And again, the rule would

5:04:09have to be waved to avoid having to put

5:04:11it in writing.

5:04:12>> Yeah. Okay. So, I I understand that. So,

5:04:14we need to vote on this amendment, but I

5:04:16want my um colleagues to hear me out. I

5:04:18do think we need um utilities. I mean,

5:04:20you guys have seen it every Councilman

5:04:22Palutoo, you say you get a call every

5:04:24day. I get a call every day about

5:04:25utilities.

5:04:28You know, lights, water. I mean,

5:04:30individuals need rental assistance. So,

5:04:33um I guess I'll sit down and we'll vote

5:04:36on this and I want to pick this up for

5:04:39debate once we vote on this. Thank you.

5:04:43>> All right. Anyone else on the Salem

5:04:45amendment? I Yeah, there's probably no

5:04:47point. Okay. Um let's take a vote on the

5:04:50Salem amendment. We'll do it verbally.

5:04:51All in favor? Uh actually, we'll do it

5:04:53by hand. Um, all in favor of the Salem

5:04:55amendment, uh, indicate by raising your

5:04:56hand.

5:05:04>> All right, it passes. So now we need um,

5:05:06Councilman Carluchi to um, move actually

5:05:10floor leader to move

5:05:11>> Mr. President.

5:05:12>> So we are now at a point in time that we

5:05:13need to move the Carluchi amendment as

5:05:15amended.

5:05:17>> We have a motion and a second to the

5:05:18Carluchi amendment as amended. Now, um,

5:05:21do you want to address u Mr. Gaffne's

5:05:24question again? M. Defus

5:05:28>> through the president uh to the council

5:05:30member Gaffne. If you would like to

5:05:32offer that as an additional amendment,

5:05:34you would need to identify where the

5:05:36$100,000 is coming from. If the council

5:05:39is inclined to take that up as an

5:05:41additional amendment to the amendment,

5:05:43you would need to wave council rule

5:05:443.303 to not require me to have to draft

5:05:48it. However, if it's more complicated

5:05:50than what was addressed in the Salem

5:05:52amendment, our office and the council

5:05:54auditor's office may recommend that it

5:05:56should be tabled so that we could draft

5:05:57it.

5:05:59>> And can you wave a new init? Can you

5:06:02just put a new initiative in the back

5:06:03burner and address it uh by legislation

5:06:06after the budget is done? Reggie,

5:06:08>> that's a Say that again.

5:06:10>> Now is not the time for committee work.

5:06:12I mean, we were we had to wave rules for

5:06:14Ron's bill. Um, if you can address this

5:06:16in separate legislation after budget, I

5:06:18think that'd be the way to do it.

5:06:19>> Okay. So, yeah, thank you. I I could do

5:06:20that. But what I was saying where the

5:06:22funding source came from, it would have

5:06:23came from the capital stack or would

5:06:25have came from the down payment

5:06:26assistance. All I'm saying is take a

5:06:28100,000 out of that. So, it's not a new

5:06:30funding source. So, it would just came

5:06:32from out of that. So, I just think to

5:06:33make this bill whole, we need to have

5:06:35utilities in this bill. So, like I said,

5:06:38I'm get I'm getting I'm getting tons of

5:06:40call for utilities. I mean, you could be

5:06:42in an apartment, you could be in a

5:06:43house, but if you don't have lights,

5:06:45>> Yeah.

5:06:45>> it doesn't matter. But

5:06:46>> we

5:06:47>> Yeah, it's at this point it's very

5:06:49difficult to bring up. It's a new line

5:06:51item, new funding. Um, all right. We

5:06:52have a whole number of people on the

5:06:54queue. You've got to be now on the queue

5:06:55for the Carluchi amendment as amended.

5:06:57I've got Diamond Gay and Aras. Do you

5:06:59want to speak on the Carluchi amendment?

5:07:01>> Oh. Uh, can you stand up and make that

5:07:04motion, please?

5:07:06>> We have a motion, a second, a motion to

5:07:08call a question. We have a second.

5:07:10Motion, a second to call a question. and

5:07:11it's not debatable. Um, we'll take this

5:07:13vote by hand. All in favor of calling

5:07:15the question, raise your hand.

5:07:32>> Okay, good. Thank you.

5:07:41All right, the motion to call the

5:07:42question passes. We'll take a vote

5:07:44verbally on the Carluchi amendment as

5:07:46amended. We're going to do it by hand.

5:07:48All in favor of the Carluchi amendment

5:07:50as amended, raise your hand, please.

5:07:59>> All right. By your vote, it passes. Um

5:08:01we'll move next.

5:08:04>> We'll move next to um

5:08:05>> Mr. Mr. Chair, call for recorded vote.

5:08:08>> Uh, sorry. Repeat your question.

5:08:11>> I call for a recorded vote.

5:08:13>> Okay, let's do that again. Miss Stfos,

5:08:16lead us.

5:08:18>> Mr. President, I believe legislative

5:08:20services could read the roster and call

5:08:22for yay or nay. They usually are the

5:08:25ones that handle that.

5:08:26>> Yep. Let's read the roster. Call yay or

5:08:28nay on the Carluchi amendment as

5:08:30amended.

5:08:47legislative services. Would you like me

5:08:49to handle it?

5:08:54>> No, we'll just do the register and

5:08:56people can say yeah or nay.

5:09:02Council member Boland,

5:09:04>> nay.

5:09:06>> Council President Howland,

5:09:08>> nay.

5:09:10>> Council Vice President Carluchi,

5:09:12>> yay.

5:09:14>> Council member Lanen,

5:09:15>> nay.

5:09:16>> Council member Carico,

5:09:18>> yay.

5:09:19>> Council member Diamond,

5:09:22>> Council Member White,

5:09:24>> Council Member Amaro,

5:09:26>> Council Member Arius,

5:09:28>> 100%. Yes. Council member Matt Carluchi.

5:09:33>> Council member Tyrone Clark Murray.

5:09:36>> Yes.

5:09:36>> Council member Pitman.

5:09:39>> Yes.

5:09:40>> Council member Gaffne Jr.

5:09:42>> Yay.

5:09:43>> Council member Gay.

5:09:46>> Council member Johnson.

5:09:47>> Yay.

5:09:48>> Council member Miller.

5:09:51Council member Paluso.

5:09:52>> Yay.

5:09:53>> Council member Salem.

5:09:56Council member Holder.

5:09:58>> Yes.

5:10:01Thank you very much. We next move to um

5:10:05Councilwoman Holder.

5:10:10>> I believe council member Holder can

5:10:11address this, but because the Carluchi

5:10:13amendment has passed unless she wants to

5:10:15offer an alternative on the amount of

5:10:17funding for each of the programs. I

5:10:19think she was going to pass on offering

5:10:21her floor amendment.

5:10:22>> All right, Miss Holder's floor amendment

5:10:23is not introduced. We move next to

5:10:25Councilman Paluso floor amendment.

5:10:30Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I do move

5:10:31my floor amendment. Would you like to me

5:10:33for me to explain it more or would you

5:10:35just want to take me to make a motion?

5:10:37Look for a second.

5:10:38>> Move it with the bill. Second.

5:10:43>> All right. We have uh Councilman Diamond

5:10:45in the queue.

5:10:50>> I'm just calling the question if you

5:10:51want to let him speak first.

5:10:54>> You want to speak first? Yeah.

5:10:56>> Yes, Mr. President. Sorry, I thought

5:10:57that's what I was doing. Um, for for

5:11:00those in the audience and for for the

5:11:01body, we're just moving these dollars

5:11:03above the line. Uh, I understand the

5:11:05concern of amendment three and the

5:11:06potential uncertainty. I don't believe

5:11:07that that uncertainty should change our

5:11:09posture as a policymaking body. Um, I

5:11:12know the last budget item really brought

5:11:14us all together there. I loved it. Let's

5:11:16uh let's continue this. What do you say?

5:11:18Um,

5:11:19cultural count the CSG dollars are more

5:11:22than just about the arts. It's economic

5:11:26development and it's public safety. For

5:11:29anyone who's been a recipient of these

5:11:30dollars and for those of you who have

5:11:32paid attention, you know, the IR the ROI

5:11:34is very great. The the individual who

5:11:37who gave the prayer earlier this evening

5:11:39said, "God loves great cities. If we

5:11:42want to be a great city, it needs to be

5:11:44more than just concrete and road."

5:11:47The government cannot

5:11:49instill love or hope in in people. Arts

5:11:54can, culture can.

5:11:57This city has a lot of

5:12:00a lot of organizations that rely on

5:12:02these funds. And we heard it this

5:12:04evening. Some of them would have to get

5:12:06rid of some of their staff and certain

5:12:08programs. Their uncertainty is far

5:12:11greater than the uncertainty of

5:12:12Amendment Three. We know Amendment 3 is

5:12:14probably going to fail. And even if it

5:12:16were to pass, it still doesn't affect

5:12:18our budget until next year.

5:12:21We are making all these plans and

5:12:23talking about the train that's coming

5:12:24down the track. That train is on the

5:12:27other side of the country right now.

5:12:30What we can do is do our job and make

5:12:33sure that we are allowing for these

5:12:34organizations that rely on these funds

5:12:38to do things like after school

5:12:39activities to do things like ensure that

5:12:43some of our major cultural institutions

5:12:45can have days free for families to use.

5:12:48Especially in these these economic times

5:12:50that DC and Tallahassee have thrown at

5:12:52us, going to Mocha for free or going to

5:12:55to the CR for free is a great activity

5:12:57for families.

5:13:01Based on some of the information I was

5:13:03provided by the culture council,

5:13:05$143 million in economic impact, over

5:13:085,000

5:13:11jobs are supported by these funds.

5:13:14Over 207,000 Jacksonville youth served

5:13:18by the use of these dollars.

5:13:21We're creating uncertainty in their

5:13:22lives, but we don't have to bring this

5:13:25above the line. These are dollars that

5:13:26we already expect to spend anyway and

5:13:28let's give them some real certainty.

5:13:31Please vote yes.

5:13:35>> All right, Council Member Lane, you're

5:13:36recognized.

5:13:37>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to

5:13:38point out the reason it's at where it is

5:13:40right now on wrap-up day. Council member

5:13:42Aras came, got support in our final

5:13:44finance budget hearing and we moved it

5:13:46to the 65%. It was at 50% prior to that.

5:13:50Uh, so I just request that we keep it

5:13:52where it is because we did make that

5:13:54change on wrapup day at the request of

5:13:56council member Aras. Thank you,

5:14:00>> Council Member Aras, you're recognized,

5:14:03>> President. Thank you for Mr. Lenon. But

5:14:06I didn't want 65%. I wanted 100%. But

5:14:10you guys and Finance said no. And when

5:14:14you what I heard earlier was we all had

5:14:16opportunities to come to finance

5:14:18committee meetings. Yeah, we did. Of

5:14:19course we do. Well, our voices were shut

5:14:22down. So today is the opportunity for

5:14:25all of us, the rest that are not in

5:14:26finance to actually fight for what's

5:14:28needed in our city. Public safety,

5:14:31infrastructure, check, check, check. We

5:14:33we got that covered. But what about the

5:14:36rest of the what makes our city our

5:14:38city? We all here say we represent our

5:14:40districts, but our districts are not

5:14:42just comprised of public safety and

5:14:43roads. They're comprised of real people

5:14:45living over there. So, if we're talking

5:14:47about affordable housing, everything

5:14:49that we do here tonight is tied

5:14:51together. This money is not coming from

5:14:54a special bucket. This money has already

5:14:56been appropriated. It's ready to move

5:14:59right now. And we're talking about

5:15:00holding money from nonprofits, from the

5:15:03people that are actually doing the work

5:15:04in the community for what? To say that

5:15:07we put money in a bucket. Go ahead, walk

5:15:10out tomorrow in District Three. Walk out

5:15:12in your districts and tell that to your

5:15:14people. But I'm not doing that. I'm

5:15:16supporting 100% funding today for CSG.

5:15:18And if PSG comes up, which I've had

5:15:20issues with PSG, I'll 100% support that

5:15:22as well, too. Because today we're doing

5:15:25the people's budget. Thank

5:15:28>> Mr. Diamond. You're recognized.

5:15:32Please. No. I didn't hear a second.

5:15:38>> Okay. Uh it's non-debatable. Um let's do

5:15:41this by a a show of hands to call the

5:15:43question. Uh, all in favor of calling

5:15:44the question, raise your hand.

5:15:54>> All right, it fails. I want to um hand

5:15:55the gavl to Mr. Carluchi.

5:16:00>> Council President Hland, you're

5:16:01recognized.

5:16:03>> Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Um, I

5:16:05just want to respond to something

5:16:07Councilman Ari said about no one's voice

5:16:09was heard. Um, everyone was invited

5:16:12invited to every single budget hearing.

5:16:14On wrap-up day, many who were not even

5:16:16on finance committee had the opportunity

5:16:18to introduce items that were important

5:16:20to them. One of the items introduced was

5:16:22one led by Councilman Aras, which was

5:16:25the PSG and the cultural council going

5:16:27from 50% um held back uh into the

5:16:30amendment 3 contingency to only 35% held

5:16:33back. So 65% funded. Um that was

5:16:36something the councilman Aras wanted to

5:16:38do. the finance committee agreed to do

5:16:40that and we also got uh understanding

5:16:43from the cultural council CEO that that

5:16:45was something that was absolutely

5:16:46acceptable to them. So we're at a point

5:16:48where something was entirely acceptable

5:16:49to the cultural council. They're not

5:16:51necessarily losing their funding. If

5:16:52amendment 3 fails, they get fully funded

5:16:54immediately. Um so this was acceptable

5:16:56to the cultural council in the final

5:16:58budget hearing. It was something that

5:16:59Councilman Aras led and just like every

5:17:02single hearing of the finance committee

5:17:03during the budget hearings, they let

5:17:06everyone on council come. everyone

5:17:08speak, everyone's voice be heard, and

5:17:10everyone's priorities be heard. So, um I

5:17:13like Councilman Lannon would prefer we

5:17:15keep it the way it is because we're

5:17:16supposed to be delivering a fiscally

5:17:18responsible budget for the city of

5:17:20Jacksonville in the face of revenue

5:17:23uncertainty in the form of amendment

5:17:24three. Thanks,

5:17:26>> Council Member Pusso. You're recognized.

5:17:29>> Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you,

5:17:30Mr. Vice President. And and to the words

5:17:32of the president, I I just have to say,

5:17:34of course, people can come to those

5:17:36finance committee meetings and certainly

5:17:37our chair did a great job of, you know,

5:17:39making sure that people got their voices

5:17:41heard. However, they didn't get a vote.

5:17:43>> We get a vote right now. This budget

5:17:46belongs to all of us. Doesn't just

5:17:48belong to one committee. And it can't.

5:17:50It's not what we were elected to do. To

5:17:52seat all of our stuff just to one

5:17:53committee. People voted for us to vote a

5:17:56budget that they cared about, that they

5:17:58believed in. They expected us to fight

5:18:01for those initiatives and those issues.

5:18:02And of course, the cultural council when

5:18:04you're standing right there as the CEO,

5:18:06they're going to say, "Sure, it's

5:18:08acceptable." Because what are they going

5:18:09to do? Say, "Absolutely not. How dare

5:18:11you, city of Jacksonville?" No, of

5:18:14course not. No. No one in the right mind

5:18:16would recommend that to any CEO. They

5:18:18did it because they had to acquies

5:18:20because they felt like they were

5:18:23grateful to get anything. But they knew

5:18:25fully well as we do that a lot of those

5:18:27nonprofits, some of them are going to

5:18:29have to fold up shop.

5:18:32A lot of great organizations in here

5:18:34from across the city. The beaches gets a

5:18:36number of different things in here. The

5:18:37Mandrin Museum, the Historical Society,

5:18:41Jacksonville Jams, an organization that

5:18:42we all know very well, which helps at

5:18:44risk youth after school to be able to be

5:18:47exposed to music and art as opposed to

5:18:50going back home to a place that might

5:18:52not be as safe.

5:18:54I'm willing to invest in that right now.

5:18:56And I don't know why we're holding back

5:18:58because of a vote in November.

5:19:01Again, let's say amendment three were to

5:19:03pass. Then what are you going to do? You

5:19:04going to vote this up? you might as well

5:19:06vote it up now.

5:19:09We shouldn't care about something that

5:19:12may not even happen. It's like saying,

5:19:15"Let's prepare for a hurricane in 12

5:19:17years." We don't know. What we know is

5:19:19what's before us now.

5:19:22And what we know is that our

5:19:23constituents are asking us to support

5:19:24them. Vote this up.

5:19:30>> Thank you, sir. Over to Miss Clark

5:19:32Murray, followed by Mr. Gay.

5:19:35Thank you, President Howland. Is there

5:19:36anyone here from the cultural council?

5:19:39Is there anyone here from Come on up,

5:19:41hustle, please.

5:19:43I apologize. Um I know that we don't

5:19:46necessarily want to do committee work

5:19:49during city council, but

5:19:53that's what we're doing today.

5:19:55Hello. Go ahead and give your name.

5:19:58>> Diana Donovan, CEO for the cultural

5:20:00council.

5:20:00>> All right. Thank you. So through the

5:20:01president just maybe one or two

5:20:03questions. So first of all in

5:20:05consideration of the fact that this is

5:20:07being withheld in case amendment three

5:20:11passes do you have the budget or do you

5:20:14have the finances to be able to sustain

5:20:16the cultural council until after the

5:20:20election the general election.

5:20:23>> I think it's less about that and more

5:20:24about the organizations that would be

5:20:26impacted. We have a lot of smaller

5:20:27organizations that should it pass and

5:20:30we're future forecasting right now. It's

5:20:32being able to set up the nonprofits to

5:20:33be able to be healthy if amen amendment

5:20:36three passes. So if it does pass there

5:20:38will be organizations that shut down.

5:20:40There'll be a significant amount of uh

5:20:42jobs and um funding lost that will help

5:20:46that will hurt these organizations in a

5:20:48big way. Yeah. So you're saying that not

5:20:50necessarily through the through the

5:20:51president. You're not saying that not

5:20:53necessarily the cultural council but the

5:20:55individ the nonprofits that rely on the

5:20:58funding from the cultural council

5:21:00>> for the cultural council when we were at

5:21:01the 50/50 and we're very grateful for

5:21:03the 65% increase and and when we think

5:21:06about the funding that we have and that

5:21:07we're working with um the cultural

5:21:09council would have been reduced to

5:21:10almost two people in staff. So we would

5:21:12have taken a very hard hit with that

5:21:145050 and the 65 increase is helpful, but

5:21:17to be able to sustain the sector and to

5:21:19also weatherproof it for the next year

5:21:21knowing that if amendment three passes,

5:21:23we want to make sure that we're not

5:21:24evacuating the city for a hurricane when

5:21:26the lightning and thunder is already

5:21:27striking. So for us, we want to future

5:21:29proof moving forward and we want to make

5:21:30sure that these smaller nonprofits who

5:21:32some of them are run by volunteers. Some

5:21:34of them have staffing that are, you

5:21:36know, minimal um minimal pay. You know,

5:21:39it could it would could be devastating

5:21:40to our tier 3es and two tier tier 2s

5:21:42especially.

5:21:43>> Okay. Thank you so much for that. Thank

5:21:45you, President Allen.

5:21:46>> I'll just note that we'll know the what

5:21:48happens with amendment three in about um

5:21:50five weeks. Uh over to Mr. Gay.

5:21:53>> Thank you.

5:21:55>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I'd like to uh

5:21:58recognize Chair Lannon and and thank him

5:22:00from all his work that uh he led us

5:22:02through on the the finance committee. Uh

5:22:06you know, and this was one of the

5:22:08discussions that we had in the finance

5:22:10committee about putting this uh in a

5:22:13bucket that if amendment three passes,

5:22:17it automatically goes right right back

5:22:20to the cultural council to be funded.

5:22:23Uh we're talking 30 what? 30

5:22:27>> 34

5:22:27>> 34 days. Uh if it passes

5:22:32uh they get fully funded in 34 days. I

5:22:35don't there there's no way that this

5:22:37amount of money would be spent in 34

5:22:40days right off the bat. So, it's not

5:22:43going to impact

5:22:45there. There was several of these that

5:22:46we put in a bucket that would

5:22:49automatically trigger to go right back

5:22:51into fully funding. Um,

5:22:56so to to say that it's going to impact

5:22:59them. I

5:23:01uh I look at it as uh you know this

5:23:04amendment three I look at as reality.

5:23:07You know, we we say we can't sit here

5:23:10and worry about a train coming. Well,

5:23:13every project that we build here in

5:23:15Jacksonville is required to to build to

5:23:18a 100redyear flood possibility and say,

5:23:22you know, that that's what we, you know,

5:23:24the basis that we we've got to logically

5:23:28look at what we're doing here. And I'm a

5:23:30realist. And to sit here and to say,

5:23:33don't worry about it. just go ahead and

5:23:35we'll come back. Once the money goes

5:23:37out, it's going to be twice as hard

5:23:40would be to to get it brought back in.

5:23:42So, you know, I I support what we've

5:23:45done in the uh finance committee. Uh,

5:23:49you know, I'm I look at my district, my

5:23:52constituents, and I understand the value

5:23:55of a dollar, but I'm more importantly, I

5:23:57understand the value of their dollar,

5:24:00and I will always hold the line on

5:24:02looking at it from that perspective.

5:24:04Thank you, Mr. President.

5:24:06>> All right. Thank you. Over to Mr.

5:24:07Boland.

5:24:09>> Miss Donovan, could you please come back

5:24:11down for a second?

5:24:14Most of you probably know for 18 years I

5:24:17was a bene my WJCT was a beneficiary and

5:24:19still is of the cultural council grants.

5:24:22I looked at this as a responsible

5:24:26step in this process. Miss Donovan, how

5:24:28many contracts are executed within the

5:24:3034 days of the fiscal year

5:24:35>> depending upon the amount of grantees

5:24:37coming through the process? Anywhere

5:24:38from 32 to 34 non uh nonprofits in the

5:24:40past couple of years.

5:24:41>> Right. And it takes what six weeks,

5:24:43eight weeks, 10 weeks before the

5:24:45contracts are typically executed.

5:24:48>> Uh depending on city of Jacksonville can

5:24:51take that

5:24:52>> the point I'm trying to make is the

5:24:53money isn't put into their hands on 101

5:24:55and likely it's not going to be in their

5:24:56hands on 111 and likely not in their

5:24:58hands until 121.

5:25:00>> So this is a frugal step in the process

5:25:02and I do appreciate that and I know that

5:25:05probably going to lose some friends in

5:25:07this process. But I think we as a

5:25:09council uh were very discriminating in

5:25:12terms of making certain that we did this

5:25:14carefully. And I I appreciate your

5:25:17answer. Thank you so much.

5:25:18>> I think ju just to to further reiterate

5:25:20that the point that we're concerned

5:25:22about is less about the payment

5:25:23immediate and more about the payment

5:25:25long-term because if it were to

5:25:27>> understood, you know, and that won't be

5:25:29an issue if the amendment doesn't pass.

5:25:31It will be an issue if the amendment

5:25:32does pass and I think we need to be

5:25:34prepared for that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

5:25:36Mr. President.

5:25:38>> Thank you, Mr. Boland. Over to Mr. Aras,

5:25:40followed by Mr. Pussa.

5:25:43>> I'll be a little bit lightheaded right

5:25:45now. Not too hard, but you know, I I I

5:25:47said this during committee. Um, and I I

5:25:49just heard it again right now. We're

5:25:51using the word if it passes. I'm not

5:25:54clinging the lives of 5,000 workers on

5:25:58an if it passes. I heard that last time

5:26:01and I don't like that word because we're

5:26:03taking a gamble. I'm not going to gamble

5:26:04on our city. But I will tell you this.

5:26:06If you guys are so adamantly secure that

5:26:09it's not going to pass and you're

5:26:12talking about 34 days, then just release

5:26:13it right now. Just release it. But if it

5:26:16does pass, which is the word I hate, if

5:26:18it does pass, the problem is this is a

5:26:202728 problem, not a 26 27 problem. So

5:26:24let's issue them their money and let's

5:26:26problem solve this together for 2728 so

5:26:29we can address it properly. But I'm not

5:26:31going to just claim the lives of 5,000

5:26:32workers times three people per

5:26:34household, 1500 people in Jacksonville

5:26:36on an if. Let's just pass it, release

5:26:39it. And same thing for PSG. Let's just

5:26:40get this night over with and go home.

5:26:42Thank you,

5:26:45Mr. Pusso.

5:26:47Mr. President, ditto to what my

5:26:49colleague just said. He's 100% correct.

5:26:52This whole if notion is very bizarre to

5:26:55me because let's say it passes. Are we

5:26:58are we going to come back here and

5:26:59probably do the exact same thing anyway

5:27:00and still give them the dollars? Let's

5:27:02just give them the dollars. Now,

5:27:04it it's a grant-making process.

5:27:08They go through a pretty detailed

5:27:11solicitation process. We know these

5:27:13nonprofits that do great work and do

5:27:16what we ask them to do. And in return,

5:27:18we get a massive return on investment.

5:27:21Like I mentioned before, this is

5:27:23economic development.

5:27:26vote this up.

5:27:29>> All right, no more speakers. Let's call

5:27:32out the vote on this one like we did

5:27:33last one if we could, please.

5:27:40>> And uh actually, let's pause till we get

5:27:42Mr. Bo back.

5:27:46We'll pause. We waiting for anyone else?

5:27:55All right. Sorry, Mr. Boland.

5:28:01>> All right, let's call it out.

5:28:03>> Council member Boland.

5:28:05>> Nay.

5:28:07>> Council President Howland,

5:28:09>> nay.

5:28:10>> Council Vice President Carluchi,

5:28:12>> Council Member Lanen,

5:28:14>> Council Member Caro,

5:28:16>> yes. Council member Diamond, Council

5:28:19Member White,

5:28:21Council Member Amaro,

5:28:23Council Member Aras,

5:28:25>> Council Member Carluchi, Matt.

5:28:29>> Council member Clark Murray,

5:28:32>> yes.

5:28:33>> Council member Pitman,

5:28:34>> yes.

5:28:35>> Council member Gaffne, Jr., Council

5:28:38Member Gay,

5:28:39>> no.

5:28:40>> Council member Johnson,

5:28:42>> yay. Council member Miller,

5:28:45Council Member Paluso.

5:28:47>> Yay.

5:28:48>> Council member Salem,

5:28:50Council Member Holder,

5:29:05>> Mr. President, we're just confirming we

5:29:06>> All right. By a vote of 9 to 10, the

5:29:08Paluso amendment number one fails. We

5:29:12move next to Johnson amendment number

5:29:14one. Mr. Johnson, are you going to um

5:29:16move it or not move it? Your call.

5:29:19You're recognized.

5:29:21>> Thank you so much, Mr. President. If you

5:29:23will indulge me, I'm going to, if I may,

5:29:26in succession

5:29:28uh look at numbers five, six,

5:29:31and

5:29:33eight. And I'll I'll explain as I go

5:29:36through this. The first amendment. Thank

5:29:38you. Uh the first amendment uh would be

5:29:41for the council office initiatives. I

5:29:43want to address this quickly as I have

5:29:45done already but I want to do it from

5:29:47this day since there seemed to be some

5:29:48mischaracterization.

5:29:50Uh I went into explaining and I was able

5:29:53to see there were issues as was

5:29:54explained to me by the council

5:29:56administration uh with mold uh

5:29:59dilapidated equip some of the equipment

5:30:01uh some of those other things. I've

5:30:03since had a meeting with and let me

5:30:05explain I was this was put in because I

5:30:07talked to the administration. So I

5:30:09didn't just arbitrarily as was

5:30:10characterized come up with sitting there

5:30:12and just decided to drop in amendments.

5:30:14Uh this had been weeks of discussion and

5:30:16so it had also been discussed with the

5:30:17council auditor. Nevertheless uh I have

5:30:20subsequently met with the council

5:30:21secretary and uh we'll be working

5:30:23together. There have been alternate

5:30:25means so I will not be introducing

5:30:27amendment uh number five which is my

5:30:30number one. uh number two which uh I had

5:30:34spoken to the supervisor of elections

5:30:36who also had asked me to introduce that

5:30:38particular one uh since I've I've spoken

5:30:41to the supervisor uh earlier this week

5:30:44and last week uh actually yesterday uh

5:30:47they are going to come and a formal

5:30:49budget excuse me a formal process to ask

5:30:52for those funds in a different way so

5:30:53there will be no need to introduce

5:30:55number two uh number three was the

5:30:57council strategic initiatives initially

5:31:00those funds were put in 10 million from

5:31:02the administration. Uh those funds

5:31:05because there are other funds that are

5:31:07pulling away from that. Uh I don't think

5:31:09that we will be able to realize that

5:31:10entire number. What I would like to do

5:31:13is table that. But I think what we could

5:31:15do I do believe there are the need for

5:31:18strategic initiatives. I've seen

5:31:19colleagues around this day do some

5:31:21really exciting things. I've been a part

5:31:23of them in their communities and their

5:31:24different districts. So I've gone there

5:31:26to be a part of that. So I don't see the

5:31:28need of doing that at this time. Uh, but

5:31:30I do reserve the right to bring it up at

5:31:32the end if funds are available, but I do

5:31:34not think those funds will be available.

5:31:35So, I will not be moving that. Uh, as

5:31:38for number eight, number eight, which is

5:31:40the cultural service grants, that is the

5:31:42initiative that we just voted on. Um, I

5:31:45I'm not sure why we put it on twice, but

5:31:47that is not a need to put on. So, I want

5:31:50to move to number nine. I do want to

5:31:52move uh and I'll be moving the other

5:31:54three in succession. The next one, uh,

5:31:56uh, number five, which is number nine

5:31:59for the United Way, uh, eviction

5:32:01diversion program. Uh, and I move this

5:32:04and can discuss it if necessary.

5:32:11>> Do we have a second?

5:32:16>> Number nine, the United Way eviction

5:32:19diversion program.

5:32:20>> Did I hear a second? Okay, we have a

5:32:22motion and a second on Johnson number

5:32:24five, which is item nine, floor

5:32:26amendment number nine.

5:32:59Uh Johnson, do you have anything else to

5:33:00say? I'll recognize Miss Clark Murray

5:33:02then on the Johnson amendment.

5:33:05>> Miss Clark Murray, are you speaking? Uh

5:33:06do you have a comment on the Johnson

5:33:08amendment, which is item number nine?

5:33:09>> Yes. Yes, I do. So, um, through the

5:33:11chair to council member Johnson, if I'm

5:33:14not mistaken, there one of our budget

5:33:17bills already has funding for United Way

5:33:20for the eviction program. I I've read

5:33:22through I can't think exactly which

5:33:25number it is, but are these additional

5:33:27funds or is this okay? Please, please

5:33:31through the chair.

5:33:32>> So, correct me if I'm wrong to the

5:33:34auditor through the uh council president

5:33:37to Miss Clark Murray. My understanding

5:33:39and and I certainly will take it because

5:33:41I we were going through a lot. Um from

5:33:42my understanding from the auditor, these

5:33:45funds for the United Way eviction

5:33:46diversion program were in that amend

5:33:48amendment three contingency bucket which

5:33:50are below the line. If amendment three

5:33:53fails, they would come back above the

5:33:55line. This action just brings them above

5:33:57the line now.

5:34:00So I don't think they're anywhere else

5:34:02in the budget based on our conversation.

5:34:04Am I incorrect, Mr. uh through the

5:34:06council president auditor? Am I

5:34:08incorrect in that

5:34:09>> through the president to um council

5:34:12member Johnson? You're not incorrect.

5:34:13But I do want to make it a point there.

5:34:15Half of it was above the line. So there

5:34:17is 500,000 above the line. Half was put

5:34:20in the amendment three contingency.

5:34:22>> This brings it all. So it gives them the

5:34:23full amount.

5:34:24>> That's what we discussed. Yeah.

5:34:25>> All right. Thank you so much. Thank you.

5:34:27Thank you.

5:34:28>> Uh Dr. Salem.

5:34:33>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

5:34:34Just to clarify, so it was a full

5:34:36million dollars and we put half above

5:34:39the line and half below. What was it in

5:34:42the 2526 budget? That just seems like a

5:34:45significant increase than what it was

5:34:48before uh through the through the

5:34:50president to to the auditors

5:34:54>> through the president, council member

5:34:55Salem, uh the eviction diversion program

5:34:57was budgeted at zero in 2526.

5:34:59>> So we've gone from zero to a million.

5:35:04Wow. Okay. Thank you.

5:35:06>> Cut it.

5:35:08>> All right. Um, no one else in the queue,

5:35:11so let's vote on uh the Johnson

5:35:13amendment, which for clarity, we had

5:35:16zero last year. There was a million this

5:35:18year. Finance committee put half of that

5:35:20into the amendment three contingency and

5:35:22left half funded. Um, so the Johnson

5:35:25amendment intends to fund it all at the

5:35:27million, which, um, is his motion. So,

5:35:31uh, the floor amendment will take this

5:35:32vote by roll call as well. By roll. Call

5:35:36it out, please.

5:35:40>> Council member Boland.

5:35:42>> Floor leader.

5:35:43>> Floor leader.

5:35:44>> Nay.

5:35:48>> Council President Howland.

5:35:50>> Nay.

5:35:51>> Council Vice President Carluchi.

5:35:55>> Council member Lanen.

5:35:56>> Nay.

5:35:57>> Council member Carico.

5:35:59Council member Diamond,

5:36:02>> Council Member White,

5:36:04Council Member Amaro,

5:36:06>> Council Member Aras,

5:36:08>> Council Member Matt Carluchi,

5:36:11>> Council Member Clark Murray,

5:36:13>> yes.

5:36:13>> Council member Pitman,

5:36:15>> Council Member Gaffne, Jr.

5:36:18>> Council Member Gay,

5:36:19>> no.

5:36:20>> Council member Johnson,

5:36:22>> yes. Yay.

5:36:23>> Council member Miller,

5:36:25>> Council Member Paluso,

5:36:27>> Yay. Council member Salem,

5:36:29Council Member Holder.

5:36:35>> All right. By a vote of 9 to 10, can you

5:36:38confirm that? Legislative services,

5:36:40>> the amendment, floor amendment fails.

5:36:44>> Um, Dr. Johnson, I think you're on item

5:36:46number 10 now.

5:36:47>> I am. I move. Uh, this was something

5:36:49that again was deleted from the budget.

5:36:50And again, I want to make sure if if

5:36:52they contacted me and they said they

5:36:54wanted it back in, I'm I'm a man of my

5:36:55word, so I'm doing what I said I would.

5:36:57Uh this is $300,000 for in the word

5:36:59international. Uh the administration did

5:37:01put it in. I am asking that you move

5:37:03this. They are building a community

5:37:05service center uh in the out east

5:37:07community. And I hope I can get a second

5:37:09so we can uh put those funds back in the

5:37:11budget as they were cut by the

5:37:12committee.

5:37:17>> And I didn't hear a second. So, oh, I've

5:37:20heard a second. Okay. Um, I see no

5:37:23speakers in the queue. So, I'll just

5:37:24note that, uh, we're about to approve as

5:37:27a budget bill, very likely, $7.7 million

5:37:30for, um, CBA that includes, uh, at least

5:37:33half of that for East Side. So, um, that

5:37:35was part of the reason why this was

5:37:37taken out of the budget. There's plenty

5:37:38of, uh, money going into this, uh,

5:37:40segment of the community as all agreed

5:37:42on with the CBA. Um, seeing no other

5:37:45speakers in the queue, Dr. Johnson.

5:37:49>> Thank you, Mr. President. While I do

5:37:51understand that, I wanted to say because

5:37:52I I didn't speak earlier to, you know,

5:37:54while I I certainly understand uh the

5:37:56the budget that we handed out, and this

5:37:59is I I don't want to put everything

5:38:00together, but I got the spreadsheet that

5:38:02was given about the the millions that

5:38:04we've given to affordable housing. And I

5:38:05didn't speak to that. I didn't want to

5:38:06pull on the time uh because I know in

5:38:08some ways it seems like we're doing

5:38:10apples and oranges and adding in things

5:38:12that we did before and what we did now.

5:38:14I kind of looking at this while I

5:38:16understand that is going to the out east

5:38:17community um this group has done some

5:38:20significant things and I don't think the

5:38:21administration would have put it into

5:38:22the budget if it was not for a specific

5:38:25purpose and so that's why as I told uh u

5:38:28the team from there that I would put it

5:38:30back in. So I don't want it to just seem

5:38:31like I'm just adding it in. But uh I

5:38:33don't want it to to be said that uh just

5:38:37because we're giving money out east

5:38:38doesn't include everyone out east.

5:38:39That's what I'm putting why I've asked

5:38:41this to go back into the budget. Thank

5:38:42you, Mr. President. Thank you. Seeing no

5:38:44other speakers, let's call this vote to

5:38:48>> council member Boland.

5:38:49>> Nay.

5:38:50>> Council President Howland.

5:38:52>> Nay.

5:38:52>> Council Vice President Carluchi.

5:38:55>> Council member Lanen.

5:38:57>> Council member Carico. Council member

5:38:59Diamond.

5:39:00>> Council member White. Council member

5:39:03Amaro. Council member Aras.

5:39:06>> Council member Carluchi.

5:39:09Council member Clark Murray.

5:39:11>> Nay. Council member Pitman.

5:39:16Council member Gaffne Jr.

5:39:18>> Council member Gay.

5:39:20>> No.

5:39:20>> Council member Johnson.

5:39:22>> Yay.

5:39:23>> Council member Miller. Council member

5:39:26Paluso.

5:39:27>> Council member Salem. Council member

5:39:30Holder.

5:39:33>> And confirm legislative services. That

5:39:35floor amendment failed. Okay. We have

5:39:38confirmation that that floor amendment

5:39:39failed. All right, we go next to uh

5:39:42Johnson uh item seven which is number 11

5:39:45on the sheet.

5:39:46>> Thank you, Mr. President. And my final

5:39:48amendment for the evening was for tea

5:39:49health. Uh it moved 7534 of a million

5:39:52dollars from the amendment three

5:39:53contingency to the tellahalth program.

5:39:55Uh I think this is important. I know I

5:39:57had a meeting with the administration on

5:39:59it. It was initially there. Uh and I

5:40:01think this should be fully funded. Uh

5:40:03and I'd like for us to uh bring it back

5:40:05to where it was. Thank you.

5:40:08>> I'll recognize Mr. Mr. Diamond followed

5:40:10by Dr. Salem.

5:40:12>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

5:40:13>> Oh, so we we have a second to the floor.

5:40:16Mr. Diamond.

5:40:16>> Yeah, just really briefly, we beat this

5:40:18one to death in finance, but they

5:40:20literally said they could do this for

5:40:22750. One, two, there's entities that do

5:40:24this for free. That's two. Three, if

5:40:26amendment three doesn't pass, it goes

5:40:28back above the line. And four, the city

5:40:31saves no money if we do this. So,

5:40:34opposed to this, um, please vote no.

5:40:41Dr. Salem, followed by Mr. Landon.

5:40:43>> Okay, Mr. Lam.

5:40:45>> I'm good.

5:40:45>> All right. Um, seeing no other speakers

5:40:47in the queue, um, everyone heard how

5:40:50much I mentioned we have in the, uh,

5:40:52budget for indigent healthcare,

5:40:53Medicare, Medicaid, nearly $100 million.

5:40:56Um, with that, seeing no other speakers,

5:40:58let's call this vote as well.

5:41:01>> Council member Boland,

5:41:03>> nay.

5:41:03>> Council President Howland,

5:41:05>> nay. Council Vice President Carluchi,

5:41:08>> Council Member Lanen,

5:41:09>> Council Member Carico,

5:41:11>> Council Member Diamond,

5:41:13>> Council Member White, Council Member

5:41:15Amaro,

5:41:17Council Member Aras, Council Member

5:41:19Carluchi,

5:41:22Council Member Clark Murray.

5:41:28Lost my SP. Council member Pitman.

5:41:32>> Council member Gaffne Jr. Council member

5:41:35Gay,

5:41:35>> no.

5:41:36>> Council member Johnson,

5:41:37>> yay.

5:41:38>> Council member Miller,

5:41:40>> Council Member Paluso,

5:41:42>> Council Member Salem,

5:41:45>> Council Member Holder,

5:41:50>> okay, floor amendment fails. Is that con

5:41:53confirmed by legislative services? All

5:41:55right, and that concludes the floor

5:41:58amendments on 504. Um, so we go back to

5:42:02page 37 of 59. We've passed a

5:42:04substitute. Um, we've now passed, I

5:42:06believe, two of the

5:42:08>> Mr. President, I can

5:42:10>> I think it's believe it's uh it's the we

5:42:13I move the substitute as three times

5:42:15amended.

5:42:16>> Second

5:42:16>> twice amended. I'm sorry.

5:42:18>> Yep. Uh, we have a motion and a second

5:42:20to move the substitute as twice amended.

5:42:23We'll take this vote verbally. All in

5:42:25favor indicate by saying I. I. All

5:42:27against say no. Substitute passes as

5:42:30twice amended. Let the record show Mr.

5:42:31Diamond voted no.

5:42:35>> That was a

5:42:35>> That's a ballot vote. Yeah.

5:42:39>> Oh, no. The um move the bill. Oh, okay.

5:42:42Hold on. We take a ballot vote.

5:42:44>> Yes, Mr. President. So, the final

5:42:45>> I thought we were rolling the amendments

5:42:46into Okay.

5:42:47>> No, we don't roll up at council like we

5:42:48do at committee. So, his motion on the

5:42:50bill as substituted and twice amended

5:42:52was seconded. And now you're ready for

5:42:53your ballot vote.

5:42:54>> Okay. We have a motion and a second on

5:42:56the bill uh as substituted and twice

5:42:58amended. We're ready to open the ballot

5:43:00and record your vote.

5:43:04Uh I don't have them in the queue, but

5:43:06Councilman Diamond, would you like to

5:43:07speak on this? Okay, let's open the ball

5:43:09and record your vote.

5:43:34Thank you.

5:43:36>> 18 yays, one nay.

5:43:38>> And by your vote 2026 0504

5:43:42passes. Mr. President, with the city

5:43:44budget bill behind us now, we are now

5:43:46ready to take up third reading

5:43:48resolutions, which can third reading

5:43:50resolution can be found on page 38.

5:43:52That's item number 812026508.

5:43:56I move the resolution.

5:43:59>> We have a motion and a second on the

5:44:01bill. The resolution that is I have no

5:44:03speakers in the queue. Let's open the

5:44:04ballot and court your vote.

5:44:13This will take a second.

5:44:4118 yays, one nay.

5:44:44>> Buy your vote 2026 0508 passes.

5:44:47>> Mr. President, now we have the nine

5:44:49remaining budget related bills. Starting

5:44:51with item number 82 2026505.

5:44:55Before I move the amendment, I believe

5:44:57there are some abstensions.

5:44:59>> Mr. Gay, you are recognized.

5:45:03>> Thank you, Mr. Mr. President, uh I rise

5:45:06to abstain from voting on this as uh I

5:45:09have several businesses that potentially

5:45:11will do work for JA. Thank you. And it's

5:45:14everything's been filed with legislative

5:45:15services.

5:45:16>> Thank you, sir. Any other abstensions?

5:45:19All right. Seeing Well, hold on one

5:45:22second.

5:45:22>> Mr. Gaffne, you're recognized.

5:45:25>> I apologize about that. Thank you,

5:45:26President Holland. I also be rising to

5:45:28abstain. My dad who own CRC um got a

5:45:32partnership with JTA which we which he

5:45:34provide mental health services and

5:45:36paired trans paired transit services. So

5:45:38I make sure everything get legislative

5:45:39services.

5:45:41>> Thank you very much. I think that uh

5:45:44that's all we have in the queue.

5:45:45>> I move the amendment.

5:45:46>> We have a motion and a second on the

5:45:48amendment.

5:45:50Seeing no speakers, we'll take the vote

5:45:52verbally. All in favor of the amendment

5:45:53indicate by saying I. I. All against say

5:45:55no. The amendment passes.

5:45:56>> Move the bill as amended. We have a

5:45:58motion and a second on the bill as

5:45:59amended. Seeing no speakers, let's open

5:46:02the ballot and record your vote.

5:46:19>> 17 yays, zero nays, two abstensions.

5:46:22>> By your vote 2026 0505 passes. Moving on

5:46:27now to item 83, 2026 506. I move the

5:46:30amendment.

5:46:31>> We have a motion and a second on the

5:46:33amendment. Seeing no speakers, before we

5:46:36actually take that, let me look make

5:46:37sure there's no abstensions. No, there

5:46:39are not. Um, seeing no speakers, uh,

5:46:42we'll take this vote verbally. All those

5:46:43in favor of the amendment indicate by

5:46:45saying I. I. All against say no.

5:46:47Amendment passes.

5:46:47>> Move the bill as amended.

5:46:48>> We have a motion and a second on the

5:46:50bill as amended. Seeing no speakers,

5:46:52open the ballot court your vote.

5:47:0519 yay zero nays.

5:47:06>> By your vote 2026 0506 passes

5:47:10>> page 39 item number 84 2026507 I move

5:47:14the bill.

5:47:15>> We have a motion and a second on the

5:47:17bill. No speakers in the queue. Let's

5:47:18open the ballot court to vote.

5:47:2818 yays, one nay.

5:47:30>> Buy your vote 2026 0507

5:47:33passes.

5:47:35>> All right. Item number 85, 2026 509. I

5:47:39understand council member Paluso has a

5:47:40floor amendment.

5:47:44>> Uh yeah, let me look real quick here. We

5:47:47have a couple um abstensions. Miss

5:47:49Pitman, you're recognized.

5:47:55to the chair. Out of abundance of

5:47:58caution, um I will be abstaining um from

5:48:02this legislation. The paperwork has

5:48:04already been um submitted because I'm

5:48:06the CEO and president of the Clare White

5:48:08Mission and I'm sure probably one of my

5:48:10staff members will be applying for um

5:48:14this grant. Thank you.

5:48:18>> All right. Thank you. Then we go to um

5:48:20Councilman Paluso.

5:48:23>> Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to um

5:48:25to add a floor amendment and I hope that

5:48:27I can get a a second in a moment, but um

5:48:30uh uh Mary can read what the amendment

5:48:32is, but effectively it's moving these

5:48:34dollars above the line just as we try to

5:48:35do with CSG. Um looking for a second.

5:48:43>> All right. Uh Mr. Mr. Pusso, as I

5:48:44understand it, this floor amendment

5:48:45you're introducing is basically the same

5:48:47thing that just you just tried with

5:48:48cultural counsel that failed.

5:48:53>> Mr. President, Mr. President, I I

5:48:56appreciate that commentary. Yes, that

5:48:58was a different item entirely and now

5:49:00we're talking about PSG

5:49:01>> because cultural council we address in

5:49:02504 and PSG we're addressing in 509.

5:49:05>> That'd be correct, sir.

5:49:06>> Okay.

5:49:06>> Through that end, to my colleagues, we

5:49:09all know these organizations. We know

5:49:11them well. We've seen the work that they

5:49:13do day in and day out in our city to the

5:49:16point that we consistently talk about

5:49:18financial uncertainty within the city

5:49:20government. We cannot allow for them to

5:49:21have financial uncertainty in these

5:49:23nonprofits that provide services in all

5:49:25of our districts every day.

5:49:28It's it's been a late night and I

5:49:29apologize for it, but again, these are

5:49:31dollars that we keep assuming

5:49:34what's going to happen in November. We

5:49:36can give them clarity right now and I

5:49:39don't see why we wouldn't.

5:49:41There are so many lives that are

5:49:43impacted by these dollars. The ROI is

5:49:46out of control. It's incredibly good.

5:49:48It's incredibly positive. And this is

5:49:49work that government that we don't want

5:49:50to do. It's why we have these nonprofits

5:49:52doing it for a fraction of the cost.

5:49:56Even if Amendment 3 were to pass, we'd

5:49:58probably still want to make sure that

5:49:59these nonprofits get the assistance that

5:50:01they need. We have a number of nonprofit

5:50:03executives in this audience. They

5:50:05understand the value of this program, of

5:50:07these of these grants.

5:50:09I ask that we vote this up. I know it's

5:50:12C uh late evening. We need 10 votes. We

5:50:15almost got it with CSG. We should get it

5:50:17here tonight. Council member Salem, I'm

5:50:19hoping that heart will grow once more.

5:50:23>> Thank you all.

5:50:23>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Pusso. Mr.

5:50:25Aras, you're recognized.

5:50:27>> Thank you, Mr. President. I'm just

5:50:28curious, um, is this one uh halfway

5:50:31funded or is it also 65%?

5:50:33>> Also 65.

5:50:34>> It's also 65%.

5:50:36Well, I'm going to support Mr. Palo.

5:50:38Thank you.

5:50:39Okay, on this floor amendment, let's do

5:50:41a call out on on the vote. There's no

5:50:43other speakers. We have a motion to

5:50:45second on the pussa floor amendment.

5:50:52>> Council member Boland,

5:50:54>> it's the PSG on. It's going to difficult

5:50:56for me to say on this one. It's an a

5:50:58yay, please.

5:50:59>> Council President Howland,

5:51:01>> no.

5:51:01>> Council Vice President Carluchi,

5:51:03>> no.

5:51:03>> Council member Lanen,

5:51:05>> no.

5:51:05>> Council member Carico. Council member

5:51:08Diamond, Council Member White, Council

5:51:11Member Amaro, Council Member Arius,

5:51:15Council Member Carluchi, Council Member

5:51:17Clerk Murray,

5:51:20>> Council Member Pitman,

5:51:23>> Council Member Gaffne, Jr.,

5:51:26Council Member Gay,

5:51:28>> no.

5:51:28>> Council member Johnson,

5:51:30>> yay. Council member Miller, Council

5:51:33Member Paluso,

5:51:35>> Council Member Salem,

5:51:37Council Member Holder.

5:51:40>> That's

5:51:4284.

5:51:46It passes. All right. Floor amendment

5:51:49passes.

5:51:51Well, I'm now, Mr. President, I move the

5:51:53bill as amended.

5:51:56>> Let's move the bill. Uh, let's see. We

5:51:57have a motion and a second to move the

5:51:59bill as amended.

5:52:02No speakers. Open the ball. Record your

5:52:04vote.

5:52:10>> What's that?

5:52:12>> Yeah.

5:52:15Thank you guys for supporting this, but

5:52:17I don't understand the rationale why we

5:52:18couldn't support CSG. It's the same

5:52:20bucket, Mr. Bdon. I just don't get it.

5:52:24I'm grateful for this passing, but I

5:52:26don't understand why CSG sitting right

5:52:28there and everybody else out there did

5:52:30not get the same love. So, I'm I'm just

5:52:33really disappointed right now, but I'm

5:52:35grateful for at least PSG. I think it

5:52:36got it passed.

5:52:38>> All right, let's open the ball and court

5:52:40your vote.

5:53:0017 yays, one nay, one abstension.

5:53:04>> Mr. President, we now move back to page

5:53:06eight to take

5:53:07>> by your vote 2026 0509 passes.

5:53:10>> Uh page eight to take up item number 9,

5:53:122026 510, a resolution that was part of

5:53:16the consent agenda.

5:53:21I move the I move the bill. Move the

5:53:23resolution.

5:53:29>> Yep. We're on item number 9, 2026 0510.

5:53:32We've had a motion. Do we have a second

5:53:34>> on the bill?

5:53:36>> Okay. Um before we do that, we have a

5:53:39motion and a second. We will have some

5:53:40abstensions. Let's uh go to Mr. Carico.

5:53:46>> Uh thank you, Mr. President. I rise to

5:53:48abstain from this vote as I have a

5:53:50conflict. My employer, the Boys and

5:53:51Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, has

5:53:52received in the past and plans to

5:53:54continue to apply for opioid substance

5:53:57abuse grants so we can help kids say no

5:53:59to drugs. So because of that conflict, I

5:54:01will not be voting. Thanks.

5:54:03>> We next go to Councilman Gaffne.

5:54:07>> Yes. Thank you the chair. Um out of

5:54:10abundance of caution, I'll be also

5:54:11abstaining from this vote. My dad, which

5:54:13runs CRC, a mental health agency, may or

5:54:16may not apply for these funds. I'm not

5:54:18sure. But on the safe side, I make sure

5:54:20everything get filed with legislative

5:54:21services.

5:54:23>> All right. And um Miss Pitman, do you

5:54:25have to abstain?

5:54:28>> To the chair. Out of a c abundance of

5:54:31caution, same. Um I'm at the Clara White

5:54:35Mission, the CEO, and my staff may or

5:54:38may not um apply for these funds for the

5:54:40homeless. Thank you. and I've already

5:54:43submitted the paperwork.

5:54:44>> All right. Thank you.

5:54:46>> Seeing no one else in the queue, we have

5:54:47a motion, a second on the bill, open the

5:54:49battle court to vote.

5:55:08Working on it.

5:55:1916 yays, zero nays, three abstensions.

5:55:22>> By your vote, 0510 passes.

5:55:24>> Moving now back to page 40, item number

5:55:2786, 2026 511.

5:55:30Before I move the amendment, I think

5:55:32we've got a few folks who need to

5:55:33abstain on this one as well.

5:55:34>> Miss Pitman, you're recognized.

5:55:40Miss Pitman,

5:55:41>> are you you have to abstain?

5:55:45>> Are we on uh 0511?

5:55:47>> 511.

5:55:48>> KHA.

5:55:52>> Ditto from before submitted the work.

5:55:55CEO of the Clara White Mission. I will

5:55:57abstain from this vote um because staff

5:56:00may or may not apply for these funds.

5:56:02Thank you.

5:56:03>> Okay. Actually, before we go to Mr.

5:56:04Carico. Um, we're going to have to

5:56:06reopen 0510 because the wrong bill was

5:56:09up during the vote.

5:56:11>> Move to reconsider 510.

5:56:13>> Second.

5:56:14>> We have a motion and a second to

5:56:15reconsider 510. Motion to reconsider.

5:56:18Just verbal.

5:56:20>> I believe. Yep. Motion to consider. All

5:56:22in favor of reconsidering say I.

5:56:24>> I. All against say no. Um, we can

5:56:26reconsider. 0510.

5:56:28I think do we need to announce the

5:56:30abstensions again or

5:56:31>> uh abstaining are Councilman Carico,

5:56:33Councilman Gaffne, and Councilman

5:56:35Pitman?

5:56:35>> I move the bill.

5:56:36>> You're not obstaining. Council Pman on

5:56:380510.

5:56:40>> Yeah. So those three are on the record

5:56:42for abstaining. We have a motion. Do we

5:56:44have a second on the bill?

5:56:45>> Second.

5:56:45>> We have a motion, second on the bill.

5:56:46It's 2026 0510. You guys ready?

5:56:50>> No. Okay.

5:57:16Where is it?

5:57:30>> All right, it's 0 510.

5:57:50Yes.

5:57:52>> 16 yay, zero nays, three abstensions.

5:57:59>> It's by your vote. 2026 0510 passes. Now

5:58:02we'll move to 2026511.

5:58:04We're in the correct posture. Um, I'll

5:58:06redo the abstensions. Uh, first, Miss

5:58:08Pitman. Um, then Mr. Carica. Miss

5:58:12Pitman, we're now on 0511. I think you

5:58:14have to declare your extension before we

5:58:15uh pass move the amendment.

5:58:23Out of abundance of caution, um I will

5:58:26abstain from this bill if already filed

5:58:28the paperwork because I'm the CEO and

5:58:30president of the Clare White Mission

5:58:32staff may or may not apply for funds.

5:58:34Thank you.

5:58:36>> Thank you, ma'am. Over to Mr. Carico.

5:58:38>> Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to

5:58:40declare conflict and abstain from this

5:58:42vote as my employer, the Boys and Girls

5:58:43Clubs of Northeast Florida, receives

5:58:45several contracts from the Kids Hope

5:58:46Alliance, all procured through

5:58:48competitively bid RFP process. And um

5:58:52that's my employee or I'm my employer.

5:58:54So I'm not going to vote on this.

5:58:55>> All right. Very good. Um with that, we

5:58:57can go ahead and move the amendment.

5:58:59>> I move the amendment.

5:59:01>> We have a motion and a second on the

5:59:02amendment. No one in the queue will take

5:59:04the vote verbally. All in favor of the

5:59:05amendment indicate by saying I.

5:59:07>> I. All against say no. Amendment passes.

5:59:09>> Move the bill as amended.

5:59:10>> Motion to second on the bill as amended.

5:59:12No one in the queue. Open the ballot

5:59:13court to vote.

5:59:3016 yays, one nay, two abstensions.

5:59:33>> By your vote 2026 0511 passes.

5:59:36>> Item 87 2026 512. Before I move the

5:59:40bill, I believe we got another

5:59:41abstension.

5:59:43>> Yep. On 0510, we have an abstension.

5:59:47You're recognized.

5:59:49>> Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to

5:59:51abstain uh abstain from this bill.

5:59:53Voting on this is uh several of my

5:59:55businesses uh may pursue opportunities

5:59:58with JA and this paperwork's been filed

6:00:01with legislative services. Thank you.

6:00:03>> Thank you, sir. I don't think we have

6:00:05any other abstensions.

6:00:06>> I'll move the bill.

6:00:07>> We have a motion, a second on the bill.

6:00:09We're on item number 87 2026 0512. No

6:00:12speakers. Open the ballot. Accord your

6:00:13vote.

6:00:32What is it? Mr. Carluchi can stand

6:00:34recognize.

6:00:38>> 15 yays, two nays, one abstension.

6:00:40>> Mr. Carluchi.

6:00:44>> This doesn't look like the bill, but I

6:00:45thought the bill I was supposed to speak

6:00:48with on a conflict

6:00:51or a disclosure was

6:00:52>> Next one.

6:00:53>> It's the next one.

6:00:54>> Next. Okay. Thank you.

6:00:58>> All right. By your vote, 2026 0510

6:01:00passes.

6:01:01>> 512.

6:01:03>> Sorry, 512 passes.

6:01:05>> Item number 88, 2026 513.

6:01:09Before moving the bill.

6:01:10>> Yeah. Before moving the bill, want to

6:01:12recognize Mr. Joe Carluchi.

6:01:15>> All right. Thank you, Mr. President.

6:01:16I'll be abstaining from voting on this

6:01:18matter as I have voting conflict. A

6:01:19portion of the funding from city council

6:01:20salaries goes towards my relative dy

6:01:23elected council member Murich senior.

6:01:24I've been advised by general counsel and

6:01:26ethics that it would be appropriate for

6:01:27me to abstain from voting on this

6:01:29legislation. I filed my AP voting

6:01:31conflict form with legislative services.

6:01:34>> Thank you other Carluchi.

6:01:43Well, I was so looking forward to

6:01:44getting my raise this year and I've got

6:01:47this pesky son of mine who's on the

6:01:49council with me. And because of that, I

6:01:52can't get my raise because he's my

6:01:54relative whom I love very much and he's

6:01:57doing a great job up here. And at least

6:01:59when you become council president, I

6:02:01won't be in your way to get a to get a

6:02:03raise. And uh so I'm just kind of

6:02:05carizing the whole thing. and I will be

6:02:08filing my uh whatever whatever formed I

6:02:11got to file and uh so we'll go broke

6:02:14again this year. Thank you.

6:02:18>> All right. Thank you.

6:02:19>> With that, Mr. President, I move.

6:02:23Hold on.

6:02:25I move the bill.

6:02:27>> All right. We uh move we have do we have

6:02:29a second

6:02:30>> motion and a second? I guess we did need

6:02:322026 0513.

6:02:34>> No speakers. Open the ballot court your

6:02:36vote.

6:02:37You're right. We didn't need

6:02:53>> 16 ys, one nay, two abstensions.

6:02:56>> By your vote, 2026 0513 passes.

6:02:59>> Page 41, item number 89. 2026 514.

6:03:04Again, I believe we have a couple of

6:03:06exemptions. I have a floor amendment

6:03:07before I take that up. I believe Mr.

6:03:10Gaffne.

6:03:11>> Mr. Gaffne, you are recognized.

6:03:16>> Thank you, Chair Holland. Um, I'll be

6:03:17standing in front of this legislation.

6:03:19My father, which runs CR which runs CRC,

6:03:21a mental health organization, um, his

6:03:23clients use the pair of transit

6:03:25services. I is everything if I

6:03:26legislative services. Thank you.

6:03:28>> Thank you. Any other abstensions? Seeing

6:03:30none, uh, we can move right ahead.

6:03:34Mr. President, I move the uh I guess it'

6:03:36be the finance amendment.

6:03:40>> We have a motion and a second on the

6:03:41finance amendment. Seeing no speakers,

6:03:43we'll take the vote verbally. All those

6:03:44in favor of the finance men amendment

6:03:46indicate by saying I. I. All against

6:03:48saying no. Amendment passes.

6:03:49>> Move the bill as amended.

6:03:50>> We have a motion and a second on the

6:03:52bill as amended. Mr. Diamond, you're

6:03:54recognized.

6:03:55>> Thank you, Council President. I I really

6:03:57just I'm going to support this. Uh but I

6:03:59just wanted to call out to the folks

6:04:00working at JTA. I see Jessica Shepler

6:04:02back there as always. Um the new interim

6:04:06CEO, Randall Barnes, CFO. These folks

6:04:08have done they've had a really bad

6:04:10couple of weeks. Yesterday was a really

6:04:12tough week for them. So I just want to

6:04:13thank them for what they're what they're

6:04:14doing and the hard work they're putting

6:04:16in. There is Miss Cleveland. He's right

6:04:17back there. I see you. Oh, and Reynolds

6:04:19there, too. So I see all you guys back

6:04:20there. So thanks for all the hard work

6:04:21you're doing. There's a board meeting

6:04:22tomorrow. I do recommend you all kind of

6:04:24clue in because they're going to have to

6:04:26make some really tough decisions. that

6:04:27board is and uh hopefully start working

6:04:29with us to uh loosen up some LGT money.

6:04:31Thanks.

6:04:33>> All right. Thank you. Seeing no other

6:04:35speakers in the queue, let's open the

6:04:36ball and court your vote.

6:04:55We have one more budget.

6:05:12Got it.

6:05:20So glad we have

6:06:1318 nays, zero nays, one abstension.

6:06:19>> By your vote, you've passed 2026 0514.

6:06:22We next move

6:06:23>> I move to page 44, item 94, 2026 646,

6:06:28our last budget related bill. I uh move

6:06:31the amendment.

6:06:34And let me make sure we have uh we

6:06:36actually do have a couple um we have a

6:06:38motion and a second on the amendment,

6:06:39but before we vote on them, we have some

6:06:40abstensions. Mr. Carico, you're

6:06:42recognized.

6:06:44>> Uh thank you, Mr. President. This one

6:06:46just out of an abundance of caution as

6:06:48we do have a few Boys and Girls Club

6:06:49locations in the east side community.

6:06:51So, we may or may not apply for these

6:06:53grants. I'm not sure, but out of

6:06:54abundance of caution, I will abstain and

6:06:57uh we'll get that filed with Legislative

6:06:58Services. Thank you.

6:07:00>> Thank you. I think Miss Pitman, you are

6:07:02on the queue as well.

6:07:05the chair. Um, same thing as a CEO and

6:07:08president of the Clare White Mission

6:07:10staff may apply apply may or may not

6:07:12apply. Paperwork has already been

6:07:14submitted. Thank you.

6:07:16>> All right. Thank you. And Mr. Gaffne, do

6:07:17you need to abstain on this one on CBA?

6:07:20No, sir. All right. Very good. Um, we

6:07:21have a motion and a second on the

6:07:22amendment. Seeing no one in the queue,

6:07:24let's take the amendment verbally. All

6:07:26those in favor indicate by saying I. I.

6:07:28All against say no. Amendment passes.

6:07:29>> Move the bill as amended. We have a

6:07:31motion and a second on the bill as

6:07:33amended.

6:07:34See no Miss Pitman, you're still on

6:07:37there. Are you just left over from um

6:07:39Okay. Um seeing no speakers, let's open

6:07:41the ballot and court your vote.

6:07:57There we go.

6:08:2016 yays, one nay, two abstensions.

6:08:25>> By your vote, you passed 2026. 05 uh

6:08:28sorry, 0646.

6:08:31Were we on the right bill with that

6:08:32vote?

6:08:32>> Yes,

6:08:32>> we were. All right. Very good.

6:08:33>> Mr. President, we've got one more item.

6:08:35As you recall, item number 150 on page

6:08:3858. We tabled that bill. I think we're

6:08:42looking for a motion to untab it.

6:08:46>> Do we uh Mr. What's the proper posture

6:08:48here? I assume that Miss Holder is going

6:08:50to withdraw the bill. Should we untab it

6:08:52and then recognize Miss Holder?

6:08:53>> Yes, Mr. Chair. Since this was laid on

6:08:55the table by motion, you would call for

6:08:56a motion to take it from the table and

6:08:58get a second and vote on that verbally

6:09:00assuming it just takes 10 votes to

6:09:01approve it.

6:09:02>> And I think you put that motion forward

6:09:03to remove it from the table. Well, we

6:09:04have a motion and a second. We'll take

6:09:06this vote verbally to take it off the

6:09:07table. Um, all those in favor of taking

6:09:09off the table indicate by saying I. I.

6:09:11All against say no. It's off the table.

6:09:13>> Why don't you recognize uh council

6:09:15member Holder?

6:09:19>> Thank you so much for through the

6:09:22president. Thank you so much for

6:09:23everyone for approving the table of this

6:09:24bill. Um, it's no longer needed now that

6:09:27we have successfully passed the 4.9

6:09:30million and moved that back into the

6:09:31budget. So, just want to thank all of

6:09:33you for listening to our constituents

6:09:35here in Jacksonville who wanted to

6:09:37prioritize affordable housing. So, with

6:09:39that, I want to withdraw the bill.

6:09:41>> Is it a move to withdraw?

6:09:44>> Motion to withdraw. It's a ballot vote,

6:09:47>> Mr. President. Yes. So, if she wants to

6:09:49make the motion to withdraw and you take

6:09:50a second, you don't have to take up the

6:09:52emergency or anything in order to do

6:09:53that.

6:09:56>> So,

6:09:56>> did you move it?

6:09:57>> She did. She did.

6:09:58>> We have a motion and a second to

6:10:00withdraw. Seeing no speakers, this is a

6:10:02ballot vote. Let's open the ball and

6:10:04record your vote.

6:10:06>> Might take a minute.

6:10:07>> Thank you, Miss Holder.

6:10:26>> Okay.

6:10:2819 yays, zero nays.

6:10:30>> And by your vote, 2026 754 is withdrawn.

6:10:34That generally would agenda.

6:10:36>> Yes, it does conclude our agenda as far

6:10:37as I know.

6:10:38>> However, before we um gabble out um and

6:10:41take or take roll call, uh legislative

6:10:44services is confirming one vote was

6:10:46accurate that we actually voted on

6:10:50correctly. Um they need to make sure

6:10:51that it was right.

6:10:55Mary, they don't know.

6:10:58>> Okay,

6:10:59>> we do announcements.

6:11:00>> Um, while we're waiting, um, can we do

6:11:02announcements before we do roll call?

6:11:04>> Yeah.

6:11:05>> Yeah. Uh, we'll do announcements. Um,

6:11:07and Dr. Salem, you have an announcement.

6:11:11>> Thank you, Mr. President. On Thursday at

6:11:139:30,

6:11:15uh, we are getting an update on the

6:11:18capacity fee issue at JEA.

6:11:21And then at roughly 9:45,

6:11:24we're having uh a notice meeting on JTA.

6:11:30Uh eventually, I think the president has

6:11:33indicated he's going to set up a special

6:11:35committee on JTA, but the timing of it

6:11:38didn't quite work out. So, the meeting

6:11:40on um on Thursday at 9:45 will simply be

6:11:45a notice meeting that I'm hosting on

6:11:47JTA.

6:11:48>> Yep. And to clarify, I'm not going to

6:11:49set up a special committee. I'm going to

6:11:51recharge the existing select committee,

6:11:53the financial audit and oversight

6:11:54committee with JTA functionality, the

6:11:56scope of which I'm working out with the

6:11:58administration and JTA right now

6:12:00>> because we want to be collaborative look

6:12:02at how to u uh reconstitute their

6:12:04finances and potentially open up LGT.

6:12:06>> I misstated that.

6:12:07>> Yeah, thank you.

6:12:09>> Um Mr. Gaffne,

6:12:13>> thank you Council President Holland. I

6:12:15just want to commend you for a job well

6:12:16done tonight. I think tonight and last

6:12:19year was a difference in night and day.

6:12:21Um, you know,

6:12:23former council president Carrick, you

6:12:25did a tremendous job, but last year we

6:12:27was hit at 4:00. I mean, I I think

6:12:29tonight it was a um it was a it was a

6:12:32balanced budget. We was able to restore

6:12:34some funds and affordable housing. And I

6:12:36think the takeaway from tonight for me

6:12:37at least, it was some give and take. I

6:12:38think um it was some wins, it was some

6:12:40losses, you know. So, I think we was

6:12:42able to work together. It was a

6:12:43bipartisan budget and everybody got

6:12:44something off the table. So, I'm still

6:12:46baffled by the, you know, the 50 to the

6:12:48100,000 utilities bill, but you know,

6:12:50uh, but at the end of the day, um,

6:12:53Councilman Holl, I just want to commend

6:12:54you on the job well done.

6:12:55>> Thank you, Mr. Gaffne. Appreciate that.

6:12:57Um, Miss Clark Murray,

6:13:03>> thank you. Good evening again to

6:13:04everyone. So, um, it's kind of

6:13:07extensive. though since 2012, the

6:13:09Normandy Village neighborhood has

6:13:10endured water all outages, more water

6:13:13notices, low water pressure, and bill

6:13:15payment adventures. All the issues came

6:13:18to a breaking point last summer during a

6:13:21town hall meeting I hosted with the

6:13:23community and the utility um provided

6:13:27provider Normandy Village Utilities.

6:13:29While allowing re residents to vent

6:13:31their frustrations, Normandy Village

6:13:33Utilities confirmed that their company

6:13:35had become bankrupt. therefore would no

6:13:38longer provide water service to about

6:13:401500 customers. Soon after, a court

6:13:43order mandated JA to take over Normandy

6:13:46Village utilities. JA is an excellent

6:13:48public utility, publicly owned utility.

6:13:52So whether or not JA could do the work

6:13:53was not the issue, money was. In

6:13:56conversing with my JA liaison, uh, Renee

6:13:59Good and Janelle Milton, I learned that

6:14:02it was it was going to cost between 50

6:14:04to $60 million to bring the Normandy

6:14:07Village community online with JA.

6:14:09Immediately, JA started pursuing grants

6:14:11to procure the funds. Then in December

6:14:13of last year, the Florida Department of

6:14:15Commerce awarded JA a $20 million grant

6:14:18to aid with the repairs and sewer

6:14:20connections. JA hosted two community mem

6:14:25residents informed of their progress. At

6:14:27the most recent meeting last Thursday,

6:14:29September the 17th, JA representatives

6:14:32convene with the Normandy Village

6:14:33residents. The presentation summarized

6:14:36the work completed at this juncture,

6:14:38which included providing a billing and

6:14:40payment office in Kingdom Plaza where

6:14:42customers could pay their bill that they

6:14:44finally understood and received change.

6:14:47So the previous water utility did not

6:14:49provide change. If the payment was exact

6:14:51wasn't exact, the utility co-op would

6:14:53credit the account. Additionally, JA

6:14:56discussed the customer service and

6:14:57billing system. Equally important was

6:15:00the fact that Normandy Village residents

6:15:02would have reliable regular pressure

6:15:04water pressure and almost no boil water

6:15:06alerts at a lower cost as well than

6:15:09their former water provider. Most

6:15:11importantly, the new service takes

6:15:12effect on October 1st. So the bottom

6:15:15line is this. This is the issue that

6:15:18persisted or plagued the Normandy

6:15:19village Normally Village community prior

6:15:23to them becoming a part of district 9.

6:15:26So now their water problems have been

6:15:27solved and it is most appreciative by

6:15:30those who live in the Normandy village

6:15:33uh community. And I want to thank the

6:15:37speaker pro Tim Wyman Dougens and of

6:15:41course um past president Randy White

6:15:45district 12.

6:15:47All right, I'm making jokes

6:15:50for their support of the community

6:15:52because they are so excited about the

6:15:53fact I know we think about we go to the

6:15:55sink and we cut water on and we don't

6:15:57think anything of it. But when you don't

6:15:59have the proper water and you don't have

6:16:00the proper water pressure and your water

6:16:03looks like mud, it really makes a

6:16:05difference when the service has been

6:16:07corrected and you can access those

6:16:09things. Thank you.

6:16:13>> Okay, Mr. Boland followed by Mr. Carlo.

6:16:15>> Very quick. I think we were missing in

6:16:16in in the announcement at the beginning

6:16:18meeting to notice the fact that next

6:16:20week is fifth week and that committee

6:16:22meetings are beginning the week of money

6:16:25week of Monday October the 5th with the

6:16:27next city council meeting on uh Tuesday

6:16:30October the 13th.

6:16:32>> All right, Mr. Carluchi followed by Mr.

6:16:34Paluso.

6:16:38>> I haven't done roll call yet.

6:16:40>> Uh thank you, Mr. President. I have

6:16:42seldom made remarks and announcements

6:16:45and so forth at the end of a meeting. Uh

6:16:48tonight I would like to do so and by

6:16:50thanking the uh my colleagues for uh

6:16:55giving me a fair shot at the affordable

6:16:57housing um amendment and for those 13

6:17:01who voted for it and I truly thank you

6:17:03for it and um and that shows a heart for

6:17:07the little guy for the underdog. Uh,

6:17:10second thing I'd like to announce, which

6:17:12I think we all know, but tomorrow

6:17:14night's a special night for our Terresa

6:17:16Igner. She has poured her heart into

6:17:19raising

6:17:21perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars

6:17:23for MS and she is a true champion

6:17:27uh and uh I'm going to be there and look

6:17:32forward to celebrating that night with

6:17:34her and I hope that y'all can make it.

6:17:37Um, the next thing I wanted to announce

6:17:40is Tommy Huzuri, our former colleague,

6:17:44former mayor of Jacksonville,

6:17:46uh, former council president, former

6:17:51uh, school board member

6:17:53uh, and Duval delegation chair and

6:17:5712-year member of the legislature. Uh,

6:17:59well, he had two wonderful brothers, uh,

6:18:02Bobby and Richard. And Bobby passed

6:18:05away. and his funeral was today. And I

6:18:08made time to make sure I went there to

6:18:10support his family whom I've known now

6:18:13close to 50 years. And um and it was a

6:18:17very sweet funeral. I saw his wife,

6:18:20Carol, and some of his relatives. So, I

6:18:23just thought I'd pass that out because

6:18:24some of y'all probably knew Bobby. Um

6:18:29this is my last budget hearing that I've

6:18:31been through. And even though I wasn't

6:18:33on finance, I think I made all the

6:18:35meetings and I want to compliment uh as

6:18:38I have publicly uh Will Landon. Uh

6:18:42chairman, you did a very good job. You

6:18:44treated me very fair. And really that's

6:18:47all I asked for is to be treated fair.

6:18:50Didn't get everything I wanted, but I

6:18:53got at least a chance to say what I

6:18:55wanted to say. And I think you ran

6:18:57evenhanded uh committee and I appreciate

6:19:00that. Um the um

6:19:05uh and the last thing I wanted to ask is

6:19:08uh council president, you've done a a

6:19:11fine job and one of those things was

6:19:14appointing Nick as your finance chair.

6:19:17Uh you go

6:19:19>> I wish I could have done that.

6:19:21>> What I say Nick

6:19:24>> Well, it's getting past my bedtime, but

6:19:27I do plan to get a drink before I hit

6:19:29hit the sack. Uh but um but by

6:19:32appointing Willland as your finance

6:19:35chair,

6:19:36u the people are laughing, they're going

6:19:38to have drink, too. But um I um know

6:19:43that you're going to have a select

6:19:44committee perhaps on the JTA and I I

6:19:47just want to ask a favor or a request

6:19:51and that is um my last year of 20 and uh

6:19:56I hope that you'll perhaps appoint me to

6:19:58that

6:20:00uh instead of just appointing the same

6:20:02people. That gives everybody a chance

6:20:05and I'd like to have a chance at that. I

6:20:08hope you'll um put that put that into uh

6:20:11consideration and I'd love to hear from

6:20:13you. I'll do you proud. I'll be fair

6:20:17because that's the way I operate. I'm

6:20:19fair and everybody will get treated

6:20:22equally and fairly and I'll do you a

6:20:24good job. But um seems like all the

6:20:27committees have come up in finance uh

6:20:29and the uh select committees and this

6:20:31that and the other. I'm kind of left

6:20:33into sidelines or perhaps left field

6:20:36where my office is.

6:20:38>> All right. Uh Mr. Pusso.

6:20:40>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh just to

6:20:41remind everyone, so 5:00 pm on Friday is

6:20:44uh at the downtown vision office right

6:20:45down the road. That's uh Jake Gordon's

6:20:47farewell party. It's where we're going

6:20:48to be presenting him with the resolution

6:20:50that we passed this evening. He's been

6:20:51with DVI, I believe, for 13 years. uh

6:20:54and and we owe him a debt of gratitude

6:20:55for the good work he's done downtown.

6:20:57And then secondly, um or thirdly, uh

6:20:59Council Member Lannon, uh Chair Lannon,

6:21:02you did an incredible job with this

6:21:03budget. I'm very very proud of you, good

6:21:05sir, and Council President, um I'm very

6:21:07proud of you as well. And uh and for

6:21:09hosting this meeting as well as you did.

6:21:10I believe what Council Member Gaffne was

6:21:12trying to say is that we got out of here

6:21:14a little bit early. I think that's what

6:21:16he means about about night and day. Um

6:21:19although I will say the the the tenor

6:21:21and the collaboration this evening um

6:21:24really does bring me a lot of a lot of

6:21:25gratitude. It might be my last budget

6:21:27perhaps. But uh but I'm very grateful to

6:21:29to all of you. Uh and uh you know I felt

6:21:32like the 19 of us really got a voice

6:21:34this evening. Thank you sir.

6:21:35>> Um Miss Pitman, are you doing birthdays?

6:21:38>> Okay. Uh

6:21:40okay. Um before you do birthdays, I'd

6:21:42like to just do kind of a budget wrap

6:21:44here. Um, you

6:21:47>> No, you're not in there.

6:21:49>> That's okay. I'll do it. I'll call you

6:21:50and then I'll call Miss Pitman. Um, so I

6:21:52just want to um say you probably noticed

6:21:55the last half an hour, 45 minutes, I've

6:21:56been frowning because I figured when I

6:21:57was smiling, you were you were adding

6:21:59money to the budget. So when I started

6:22:01frowning, I I want to act disappointed.

6:22:03I thought maybe I get some sympathy and

6:22:04luckily we uh stopped the hemorrhage. Um

6:22:06by a um a vote of 18 to1 over multiple

6:22:10budget bills um we approved the most

6:22:12fiscally responsible budget uh in

6:22:14Jacksonville in over a decade. And I'm

6:22:17thrilled by that. Um here's why it's the

6:22:19most uh fiscally responsible budget.

6:22:21Number one, it funds public safety.

6:22:23Number two, it funds critical

6:22:24infrastructure. Number three, it funds

6:22:25core services. And when you put public

6:22:27safety aside, when you hold it aside, it

6:22:30spends less than last year. In fact, um

6:22:32the largest amount spending less than

6:22:34last year in core government in over a

6:22:36decade. And not only that, but the

6:22:38capital budget is less than last year.

6:22:40And that's only been done once in the

6:22:42last 10 years. So to me, this budget is

6:22:44proof that as we face real revenue

6:22:47uncertainty in the very near near future

6:22:49that government can both re in its

6:22:51spending and deliver for its residents

6:22:54at the same time. And more importantly,

6:22:56Mr. Aluso Paluso just alluded to it.

6:22:58this entire budget uh was an exercise in

6:23:01civility and compromise and for that I

6:23:03am most proud. So congratulations to

6:23:06Chair Lane um to Vice Chair Miller,

6:23:08congratulations to the rest of the

6:23:09finance committee and um congratulations

6:23:12and thank you to the council auditors

6:23:14for all your hard work and to

6:23:15legislative services.

6:23:19Together you all delivered for

6:23:21Jacksonville tonight. So thank you very

6:23:23much. Um with that, let me do roll call,

6:23:26then I'll call on uh Mr. for uh Dr.

6:23:28Johnson and then Miss Fitman. So, roll

6:23:30call, please.

6:23:37>> 19 present.

6:23:38>> All right, Dr. Johnson, you're up. And

6:23:40last will be Miss Pman.

6:23:41>> Thank you so much, Mr. President. I've

6:23:43literally have been in queue back and

6:23:44forth all night, so I know we've been

6:23:45having some issues cuz I was wondering

6:23:47why is the president not calling on me?

6:23:48It's cuz we're having technology issues.

6:23:50I thought it was something in the

6:23:51glitch. You said program it. Don't call

6:23:52on Johnson. But it's okay. Uh our

6:23:54council family is doing some

6:23:56extraordinary things and I wanted to

6:23:57share it first. Uh our for the number 57

6:24:00and I'm not talking about Hines council

6:24:02president 57 Kevin Carico uh was in Rome

6:24:05Italy recently where he was seated in

6:24:06the board of trustees of the world law

6:24:08foundation which is an amazing

6:24:10organization that pulls together jurists

6:24:13scholars and global leaders advancing

6:24:14the global rule of law. And uh when I

6:24:17saw that I thought it was pretty big and

6:24:18I thought we needed to talk about it.

6:24:19Congratulations Kevin. Seated in Rome,

6:24:22Italy. That's a big one. And I want to

6:24:25also say uh on behalf and I know

6:24:28Councilman Carluchi brought it up but I

6:24:29also wanted to just make sure we gave

6:24:31the specific details. Our public

6:24:33information chief and officer uh Teresa

6:24:35Iikner the event is the multiple

6:24:37scerosis society dinner of champions.

6:24:40Colleagues I hope that you will join my

6:24:42me Councilman Carluchi and whoever else

6:24:45can come. It'll be tomorrow night at

6:24:476:00 over at the uh Florida Blue

6:24:49Conference Center in Dearwood. It will

6:24:51be an amazing event. But I have to say

6:24:53this, there are about a million people

6:24:55who are suffering from multiple

6:24:56sclerosis in America. Here in Florida

6:24:59alone, 60,000 people have MS. And for

6:25:02those that know, it is a very

6:25:03debilitating disease. And even with

6:25:06that, through all of the work she has

6:25:08done in founding her bourbon event,

6:25:11Teresa Iikner has raised over half

6:25:14million dollars for people with multiple

6:25:16scerosis. So that dinner tomorrow night

6:25:19or that event tomorrow night is

6:25:21dedicated toward her. I thought it was

6:25:22black tie. They said, "You don't have to

6:25:24wear a tie." So, we need to go over

6:25:25there and support her. Raise money

6:25:27because it could be us. Could be one of

6:25:29our family members. It is so important.

6:25:31Teresa, thank you for the work that you

6:25:32do. Uh, and I got to say, both of you

6:25:34guys, keep serving, keep shining, keep

6:25:36making Jacksonville proud. Kevin, you're

6:25:38bringing the light to the world. You're

6:25:40bringing hope to the world. This is how

6:25:41we do it in Jacksonville. Thank you, Mr.

6:25:43President.

6:25:45>> Thank you. And Miss Pitman.

6:25:51Well, I want to say a couple of things

6:25:53tonight. Um, first of all, I want to

6:25:55thank the auditors for getting us in the

6:25:58place that in the space that we need to

6:26:00do, as well as OGC, Mary, and Colin, all

6:26:04of you all back there. Y'all have done

6:26:06an outstanding job and I know it's been

6:26:08very stressful. But I think we need to

6:26:10give both of the departments a big round

6:26:12of applause. We appreciate everything um

6:26:16that you all have done for us. I also

6:26:19wanted to share I had a chance to go

6:26:22over to the Mills on Wheels program.

6:26:25They had a a soft opening um this week.

6:26:29If you have not had an opportunity to go

6:26:32see their new operations, you want to go

6:26:35see it is amazing. and Teresa Barton who

6:26:40retired.

6:26:41Um they also acknowledged her as well,

6:26:45but I was just blown away with with

6:26:47their um new facilities. And Sam Hall is

6:26:51the new um C um EO at that time. And I

6:26:56also want to thank Darnell. Thank you

6:26:59for being here. You've been here with

6:27:00us. You was here last time, but we were,

6:27:03you know, in AM. But thank you. I'm glad

6:27:06that we were able to um

6:27:10work on the budget together, although we

6:27:12may have differences, but at the end of

6:27:14the day, it's about the people that have

6:27:16elected us. And so, I want to thank you

6:27:18all so much. And President, I appreciate

6:27:22you. I really do. And, you know,

6:27:25although this is my last budget, I'm

6:27:26going to miss you all. It's been nine

6:27:28and a half little years that I've been

6:27:30able I think I've been on the I was on

6:27:32the budget until you kicked me off this

6:27:34year. You know, I thought I was going to

6:27:36go out with a bang, you know, but y'all

6:27:37y'all got rid of the women on this. It's

6:27:39okay. But anyway, just joking. But I

6:27:43appreciate giving me the opportunity to

6:27:45serve um on the finance committee. And

6:27:48Lena, not know you about you're just

6:27:50like um um um

6:27:55Ron, y'all about them dollars and cents.

6:27:59Um and and again, you all did a great

6:28:01job and I want to congratulate you all

6:28:04on that as well. So birthday uh that we

6:28:08have is Felicia Austin who was yesterday

6:28:11was her birthday. So happy birthday my

6:28:14dear and u it's time to go home. All

6:28:17right. And before I adjourn, I just want

6:28:19to clarify. We took up the announcements

6:28:21early because uh legislative services

6:28:22and OGC were ensuring that we uh on one

6:28:25particular vote that we voted on the

6:28:27right one that was on uh the ballot and

6:28:29it was it's confirmed. We did it all

6:28:30right tonight. So with that, we are

6:28:32adjourned. We'll turn it over to the

6:28:33>> legislative services. I'm so sorry.

6:28:35Y'all do great work as well. Thank you

6:28:38all so so very much.

6:28:39>> Over to Mr. Romero

6:28:41>> and JSON

6:28:46>> and