2026-10-08 - Rules

00:00and welcome to the Monday October 5th

00:032026

00:05rules meeting. I call the meeting to

00:08order and be before I go to

00:12introductions on the dis I would just

00:14like to u

00:18note just just put a notice out if

00:21you're here for public comment please

00:23fill out a green speaker card so we we

00:27can have a record of you and uh m be

00:31able to make sure you're able to uh come

00:34up and speak with that. Let's go ahead

00:37and start to my left with Mr. Dennis

00:38with introductions.

00:40>> Good morning. Garrett Dennis,

00:41administration.

00:43>> Colleen Hampy, council research.

00:44>> Carla Shell, Office of General Counsel.

00:47Christa Carer, Council Auditor's Office.

00:49>> Philip Peterson, Council Auditor.

00:51>> Ken Mar, City Council, District 1.

00:53>> Mike Gay, District 2. Will Lane in

00:56District 3.

00:57>> Good morning, Toronto Clark Murray,

00:59District 9.

01:01>> Good morning, Michael Bland, District 6.

01:03>> Good morning, Nick Howland at large

01:04group three. Randy White, District 12,

01:07just visiting.

01:09>> All right. Thank you all and welcome uh

01:11council president and former council

01:14president uh here this morning. Glad to

01:17have y'all. Uh we'll go ahead and go to

01:21public comment.

01:25All right. So, we'll have um you'll be

01:29given three minutes to speak. So when

01:32you come up uh to speak to a item on our

01:36agenda, I give your name and address and

01:40if you can say address is on file.

01:44The first speaker will be Mr. Terry

01:48Caldwell.

01:49Come on up, sir, and you'll have three

01:51minutes.

01:55>> Good morning, council members. Um, yeah.

01:59I seen the video from last month's um

02:02>> name and address for the record.

02:03>> Oh yeah. Um, Terry Caldwell, 3628

02:06Herminage Road East, 3221

02:09uh 32277 District 1. Um, yeah. 7 o'clock

02:14this morning. I watched last month's

02:16meeting and it got me going a little bit

02:19this morning. So, I didn't know if I

02:21wanted to do a rebuttal or to give you

02:24an update. So, I'm going to cut the

02:26update short. Um, Mr. Alo and essential

02:31uh heating uh essential heating there

02:33that was given 30 days to complete the

02:35job. Today's 35. They're still not still

02:37not done. It has failed twice since

02:40they've tried to put it in. Um I noticed

02:44the first time it failed, it looked like

02:46they tried to put a generic

02:49um compressor in there. They only had

02:51two bolts or four bolts bolted down.

02:52when I looked at it have 5/8 inch copper

02:55tubing which means it was less than a 3

02:57and 1/2 ton when we have a 4 and 1/2 ton

02:59the actual unit is a 4 ton but anyway

03:02besides that I'm getting into the part

03:04where um one of the council members I

03:07can't remember who said that this guy

03:10was in a volatile situation and was

03:12apologizing to him and um you know my

03:16brother was in the Marine Corps but um

03:19he didn't learn how to be a man he's um

03:21pretty much a narcissist And for the

03:23last two years, I've been trying to

03:24struggle with that. And that kind of got

03:26my PTSD going this morning with with

03:30when I watched that video. I have proof

03:32here. And I if I can prove one thing

03:34that he said is a lie, then everything

03:36he says is compromised. And it's the

03:40letter um he sent to the legal way to

03:43cease and desist order. And um let's

03:47see.

03:49Yeah, running out of time. But he he he

03:51says that I ran him and the um inspector

03:55off the job, that never happened. And

03:56also um originally when he went into

04:01when I originally kicked him off the

04:02job, they were we were arguing had been

04:04arguing over $500 to connect the plenum

04:07to the unit they installed. Why didn't

04:09you include that in the price? So, and

04:11and then the guy shows up and says, "I'm

04:14here." tells his employees, "I'm here to

04:15collect a check to make sure it don't

04:17$500 check to make sure it don't

04:18bounce." Well, I told Mr. Alo that I had

04:21$500 cash. So, well, there was no check.

04:23So, I said, "What the

04:26you know, you know, and and this is the

04:28work they were doing." So, I wasn't

04:29planning on doing I mean, this $500

04:32worth of

04:35You're kidding me, right? And and that's

04:37why they pulled off the job the first

04:38time. And I never said nothing wrong,

04:40you know, bad to this guy. All I've ever

04:42tried to do is hold him accountable. I

04:43could have sued him, but

04:46I didn't. I, you know, I'm trying to

04:48hold him accountable. I'm a bit I used

04:49to be a businessman and a contractor,

04:52and I I know what it's like. I mean, I

04:54was trying to hold him to standards and

04:57>> All right. Thank you. Next speaker is

05:00Pastor Timothy Johnson, Senior.

05:07Sorry.

05:26Good morning everybody.

05:29>> President, council members.

05:33>> I want to speak just real quickly.

05:35>> Give you

05:36>> name and address for the record, sir.

05:37>> Pastor Timothy D. Johnson, senior

05:39address 613 West Ashley.

05:43>> Thank you.

05:44>> Jacksonville, Florida 3220

05:47representing district 7. Just wanted to

05:50speak real quickly on resolution 2026774

05:55on the cultural grants. I want to

05:58propose to Mr. Lo and to the council and

06:01to the mayor, we need to do something in

06:04regards to extending the Emerald Trail a

06:07little bit beyond where it's going right

06:08now. Brooklyn is being overlooked. You

06:11look to the left, Riverside is taking

06:13care of Brooklyn. There's blight

06:15everywhere. Even though they've built

06:18some pretty lofts, I was working on

06:21generational homes in 2017.

06:23Some of them did not need to be torn

06:25down, but that's neither here nor there.

06:27But the blight starts at the back of the

06:29lofts and continues all the way around

06:32through mixing town. We got to clean it

06:34up. I've been begging, pleading, asking.

06:37District 7 current city city council

06:40member has never even been over there.

06:42We're looking for you, Jimmy. You need

06:44to come see about your district. It's

06:46more than Pontra, San Marco, and all

06:48these other places. Um, it needs some

06:52attention. I don't know when the last

06:54time any of y'all have went to the right

06:57after you crossed the bridge on the

06:59Emerald Trail. It's in D Street and I'm

07:03asking you to please do something. Get

07:05that grant. The Red Caps played in

07:08Derkyville. It was a asinine idea to

07:11even think about putting the jail there.

07:13This is an historical district. It

07:16deserves historical money. It involves

07:19the history of this city. Let's get it

07:21done.

07:22All right. Thank you. Next will be Mr.

07:25Carell Oliver and then after that it's

07:27Mr. John Nun.

07:37>> Uh yes, my name is Carne Oliver. Address

07:39is on five. Uh, I'm opposed to uh the

07:43appointment of Allison Galloway Gonzalez

07:46because I want to put things from a

07:49biblical standpoint in its proper place.

07:52The Bible says the first shall be last

07:55and the last shall be first. In the

07:57foundation of this country, the very

08:00first civil rights act that was

08:01established was the 1866.

08:04Follow the lesson I'm teaching you.

08:081964 Civil Rights Act came in place and

08:11this country,

08:13this state,

08:15the local government has been operating

08:17underneath the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

08:21And the concept the last shall be first

08:24again on this board and on these

08:28commissions specifically like this.

08:30those that are fall underneath the 1866

08:34Civil Rights Act should be the number

08:36one class of people that sits on these

08:38boards because we have the land rights.

08:43And I need real white Americans and real

08:46black Americans to understand something.

08:48We're going to have to come together

08:51because the upper class of the of the

08:54immigrant class is destroying this

08:57country. And if we don't put things back

08:59in its proper place, we will continue to

09:03fall. Those that fall underneath the

09:061964 Civil Rights Act, you know it.

09:09You're getting aid on by your very own.

09:12You have got to give the power back. And

09:16if that means putting American freedman,

09:19putting real white Americans on these

09:21boards and these commissions to protect

09:24our interest, so be it.

09:29This is enough.

09:31I'm half chalk

09:33and I'm half black American.

09:36I have the most power in this country

09:39just like real white Americans. And

09:41we're going to have to sit down and

09:43we're going to have to execute a plan to

09:46actually get this country back in order.

09:48And it starts by re-electing,

09:51restructuring boards and commissions

09:53like this that support the interests of

09:56people like us. We have the land rights

09:58and we need to take ownership.

10:02>> Thank you. Let me recognize Dr. Salem

10:05and Miss Council Member Pitman has

10:07joined us.

10:09>> Yes, sir. Go ahead.

10:13>> I apologize for being late. I I saw nine

10:16o'clock on my calendar and did not

10:18believe it. Is this the now permanent

10:21time for rules going forward?

10:23>> Yeah. Yes, sir.

10:24>> Okay.

10:26>> Yes, sir. That

10:27>> has been

10:27>> for the the whole the whole year.

10:30>> Okay, then. Uh [laughter]

10:34>> I'll be okay. Thank you. I was just

10:37thinking 9:30 for some reason.

10:39>> All right. Glad to have you this

10:41morning. Let's uh uh Mr. John J. Nun,

10:45come on down.

10:50>> Hello. I am John J. Nuni, 8356 Baskam

10:55Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32216. I'm

10:59um

11:00the council uh city council legislation

11:0320230819

11:05city council district 4 trust Scott

11:07Wilson Park CPAC 3, the worst CPAC of

11:12the six seatpacks. School Board District

11:153 Cindy Pearson Charter School Public

11:16School Amendment Three Field Trip

11:18Northeast Florida Regional Council

11:20Public Park on Potsburg Creek. It's

11:23brilliant. RD The Real Doge Ron Davis AM

11:28600 WBO 6 to9 a.m. Monday through

11:31Friday. Now, I'll be highlighting agenda

11:33item 47 2026 0780.

11:38JTA,

11:40Attorney General of the State of

11:42Florida, James Utier.

11:46I need a yard sign.

11:48Right. Agenda items 1 2 3 8 9 10 15.

11:54Number 18, 2026 0726. That's a Council

11:58on Elder Affairs. It's a super

12:01appointment. Number 11, 202698

12:04Environmental Protection Board. Don't

12:06take away the checks and balances of

12:08this fund. Wave code sections 111.755

12:13number 16 2026 0722

12:17the department park on Pottsburgh Creek

12:21Melissa Long EQD. Agenda item 29 2026

12:260759 Wyatt Bowers is a member of the

12:29Health Planning Council of Northeast

12:31Florida as a consumer for a sixth full

12:34term. No term limits there. Someone just

12:37needs to ask Wyatt about, you know,

12:39kayaking on Hogan's Creek. Agenda item

12:4234, 2020

12:446764,

12:46the reappoint of Elizabeth Beth Mama

12:49Payne as a member of the Health Planning

12:51Council of the Northeast Florida

12:53Regional Council as a provider, fourth

12:56term. Miss Payne is the head of the

12:58Northeast Florida Regional Council.

12:59That's seven counties, just down about

13:0140ome seconds. Agenda item 32 2026 0762.

13:08Now that's Blake Bass and we've got 33

13:112026 0763

13:15Scooter Bar. They are True Blue True

13:18Commissioners.

13:20All right. Agenda item 37 to 20 seconds.

13:25All right. 2026 0769

13:28declaring the month of October 2026 as a

13:30Scouting America month. and jacks.

13:33That's amendment three stuff that is

13:35tourism worldwide international. And

13:38also I'll be making a donation to

13:402026004

13:43triple04 and that's our parks trust fund

13:46for scouting. Thank you for listening

13:48and

13:50all right thank you. Uh our next speaker

13:53speaker is uh Jim Emory and he's just

13:56here for questions only uh representing

13:59the volunteer life saving course and

14:05and then our next speaker is Daniel Kery

14:14if I

14:16hope I pronounced your last name

14:18correctly sir.

14:21Yeah, [clears throat] good morning.

14:23Yeah, you nailed it. Uh, thank you. My

14:25name is Daniel Kurszy. Uh, good morning.

14:27I appreciate the opportunity to speak

14:28to, uh, the committee today. I'm here on

14:30behalf of the Oh, my address is on file.

14:33>> I'm here on behalf of the hardworking

14:35women and men employed by JA who are

14:38members of Luna 630.

14:41>> Today, you're going to be asked to

14:42approve uh in your rules committee the

14:45new collective bargain agreement for

14:46these workers. We humbly ask that you

14:49support it and you do. Uh Lyuna and the

14:51employer work together to uh finally

14:54reach an agreement. Um the employees are

14:58satisfied with the progress that we've

15:00made. We still have some work to do, but

15:03uh we do hope that this committee will

15:05approve the agenda item that will be

15:08before you today. Thank you so much and

15:10have a great meeting.

15:11>> All right. Thank you, sir, for being

15:13down here representing JA. Um, so moving

15:17on to our our agenda, we'll go through

15:20our appointments and then we're going to

15:22have a presentation by J JTA and then

15:26we'll be taking up council uh President

15:29Howland's emergency after that. So just

15:32kind of give an oversight of what we're

15:34going to be doing. All right. The first

15:36item we'll take up is item is on page

15:40four, item number six,

15:432026 0517.

15:46Get a motion on the bill.

15:48>> Second.

15:48>> I've got a motion and second on the

15:50bill. Mr. Julio,

15:53would you come on down, sir, and kind of

15:56give us a an update and

16:00where things are at? Uh you heard the

16:04public comment. Uh so we just like to

16:08get all the details before the committee

16:10here.

16:11>> Good morning everybody. Uh Julio Leo

16:133756 calling the code trail. Uh so yes I

16:18heard the comments. I just wanted to

16:19establish uh the compressor was changed

16:21on the 29th. Uh the system was running.

16:25Now we are having some issues. I don't

16:28know what the issues are yet. I do have

16:30a matter of fact this morning I have

16:32somebody on site I get in I got in

16:34contact with Mr. Rob and Miss Cammy

16:37Cwell and those are the people that I am

16:39actually working directly with uh due to

16:44let's just say

16:46just to avoid any is any other issues uh

16:49any outside issues I we want to focus on

16:51what the problem is which the unit is

16:53not working uh I know Mr. Kawa was

16:55saying about the uh copper lines are are

16:58are incorrectly sized. Compressor is uh

17:02incorrectly sized. I just want to make

17:04sure I make it clear that all the parts

17:07that we have gotten were warranty claims

17:10through the manufacturer and the

17:11manufacturer issues. There's plenty of

17:13paperwork. There's plenty of receipts

17:15and everything like that to demonstrate

17:17the fact that we got and we got all

17:19these parts from uh the actual

17:21manufacturer and uh the the promise and

17:24the commitment to uh the callwells is to

17:28make sure that we keep going until this

17:29unit is suffice. It's not about the

17:31appointment. It's not about any of that

17:33stuff. It's just the fact that we're

17:35already putting hands. We're back in

17:37this uh in this location. We're going to

17:39keep working on until we resolve the

17:40issue. Um, so, uh, besides that, I just

17:45wanted to make sure, um, I clarified

17:47everything. Uh, I know that Mr. Cwell

17:49was talking about a plan of work and

17:51everything like that. This is, this all

17:54was warranty, uh, in a warranty

17:56insurance company's um, third party. We

18:00were a third party to them and we were

18:02contracted, we were contracted to

18:04install a unit. Uh, so we end up

18:07installing the unit. Yes, we had some

18:09issues along the way, especially with

18:11the compressor um replacement, but I

18:14want to make sure that we are all clear

18:15that I'm not trying to um deceive

18:18anybody. I'm just trying to be very

18:20clear. We're changing, we're replacing,

18:23we we're doing what we need to be doing.

18:26Um I'm going to keep going until I

18:28resolve the issue. Um

18:35>> All right.

18:37I don't have any. Thank you, sir. I

18:39don't have any speaker. Okay. Councilman

18:42Amaro.

18:44>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, you said

18:47something that the uh the parts that

18:49you've installed uh they came directly

18:52from the manufacturer

18:54um per uh I I guess the the filing of a

18:58claim warranty. Here's my question.

19:02uh they came directly from the

19:04manufacturer but are they the correct

19:08part?

19:08>> Yes, sir. Yes, we actually had it

19:10confirmed uh with Mr. Rob Cwell and you

19:13know making sure that cuz the um the

19:16claim I I understand that you know the

19:18family Cwell is having some internal

19:20issues and that is okay. I'm not trying

19:22to like put more wood into this fire,

19:25right? All I'm doing I'm just trying to

19:27take care of just business. Um so Mr.

19:31Terry Cwell decid uh he brought up to

19:34their attention that this is this is

19:36this is a two uh two-tonon compressor

19:39not a and this is a 4-tonon unit. I did

19:41call Lennox. Lennox is the manufacturer

19:43for this uh unit. Uh and I put it on

19:46speakers so Mr. Rob Cwell can go ahead

19:48and listen as well because they share

19:50with me about the the concern that Mr.

19:53Terry had. Um and then we were able to

19:56just confirm that that is exactly what

19:58is supposed to be in that unit.

20:03All right. Thank you. Let me go to Dr.

20:05S. One more.

20:06>> Oh, I'm sorry. Just for clarity, sir.

20:09What is left to be done to

20:11>> provide air conditioning service in this

20:13household so that this can get behind

20:15you?

20:16>> Absolutely.

20:17>> Why? I mean, you're you're trying to get

20:19appointed and and this is a significant

20:22stumbling block.

20:23>> I'll be I'll be honest with you. I mean,

20:25after just this process alone, whether

20:27the appointment, you know, whether you

20:28guys approve the appointment or not,

20:30that this this unit is uh this issue is

20:33going to get resolved regardless. Now,

20:35what's uh what's left in this unit, I'll

20:38be honest with you, I don't know. I

20:40don't know what's wrong with it because

20:41once we installed everything that we

20:44replaced the compressor, the crankcase

20:46heater as well as um the the

20:51um the length of of copper uh that it

20:54was 5/8 now 7/8

20:56uh and there was a capacitor also

20:58replaced. Now, we did get a call from or

21:02a message from Miss Cammy Cowwell

21:04yesterday letting us know that there was

21:06uh the unit was not working and we need

21:09to, you know, to come out and take a

21:11look at it. We said there was no

21:13problem. We'll come out. We'll take a

21:14look at it. Um, you know, as we were

21:16sitting there, I was listening to, you

21:18know, everybody that was coming through.

21:20I was taking a look at those pictures.

21:22Seems like all pressures and everything

21:23are correct. I don't know what is wrong

21:25with the unit yet. Once I'm on site,

21:28I'll be able to diagnose it. Now, let's

21:30also in this in this uh mechanical

21:34world, I'm un unfortunately there could

21:36be other issues, too. There could be

21:38other issues that could be happening

21:40that it's outside of the original scope.

21:42And that is okay. Um, you know, because

21:45we're willing to to work with it and to

21:48figure it out what's wrong with it. But

21:50I couldn't tell you exactly what is

21:52wrong with it. Everything everything

21:53that is supposed to be in place, it's in

21:55place.

21:57everything that it was. It was when I

21:58left on Friday, I was um everything was

22:03working fine. There was no issues. I'm

22:05sorry, the 29th, whichever day that was,

22:07Thursday or Friday.

22:12>> All right, let me go to Dr. Salem.

22:14>> Thank you, Chair. Um council member,

22:18chair, you kind of led the charge on

22:20this at the last time we heard this.

22:23This is outside of my scope of um

22:26expertise to say the least. Are you

22:29satisfied today that uh that you're

22:33prepared to move this forward?

22:35>> Uh to answer your question, to move it

22:39forward, yes, I'm going to move it

22:40forward.

22:44[laughter]

22:45>> Okay. Meaning the bill's in front of us.

22:48>> Correct. Correct. So, I'm not I'm not

22:50going to defer it. We've had 30 days to

22:53see a resolution

22:56on this. So that

22:59I'm not sure what you want me to answer.

23:02>> Well, are are you satisfied that uh this

23:06gentleman has done everything he can to

23:08to get this air conditioning working um

23:12so so that he could be placed on this

23:15board?

23:16>> Okay. So to answer answer that topic, um

23:22my concerns are u 30 days to get get

23:27this resolved. Uh we look at day 28, day

23:3129 to try to do a resolution.

23:35Uh I got emails from Mr. Dennis saying

23:40that uh everything was resolved. Uh the

23:44same day I get emails from uh the from

23:48the family saying that a two-tonon

23:51compressor has been put in in place with

23:534 ton not working again. And so I I just

23:58don't see uh that issue getting resolved

24:03uh as far as the uh the 30-day period

24:08that we sit here and uh establish for a

24:13a resolution. Uh so

24:17unfortunately this committee is being

24:21put in a a position of being a a

24:23construction trade um review board and

24:27that's really not the the posture. We

24:30we're looking at the individual that can

24:33come in and be competent that can sit in

24:35this position to govern other

24:39contractors. And that's where this kind

24:42of puts uh uh concerns on it for me.

24:47>> Would it be more appropriate, I'm

24:49throwing this out, that he come back

24:52when this is totally resolved versus

24:54putting an artificial time point of 30

24:57days.

25:01The and and I can let Mr. Dennis uh

25:06weigh on weigh in on that as well.

25:09um

25:11that period of time u is to be

25:14determined if if that's the

25:17>> [clears throat]

25:17>> uh a avenue that uh that's chosen. Um

25:22maybe at some point in time that that

25:25when uh there are no issues and there's

25:28a little more seasoning that's taking

25:30place that he could possibly be put in

25:33this uh capacity. But right now I'm not

25:37uh comfortable and and I will not be

25:40supporting uh him in this position.

25:44>> The may I continue?

25:45>> Yes.

25:46>> Through the chair to Mr. Dennis. I mean

25:48is I mean this

25:51this gentleman appears like he's working

25:54to resolve this 4 ton twoton. I mean,

25:57um, are we better off just deferring it

26:01until we are 100% convinced the issue's

26:04been resolved that where we can bring

26:05him back and vote it voted up

26:08>> uh through the chair to Councilman uh

26:10Salem um um on Thursday or Friday he

26:14sent an email with uh the resolution of

26:18uh the equipment and uh his customer. Um

26:22now today you know he's saying that uh

26:24he got a call from uh the customer

26:27saying that uh there are issues. Uh one

26:30of the things that uh that we noticed in

26:32this letter to us uh last week is that

26:35at the end of the day u uh he has gone

26:38through a lot of um uh reputation

26:41damaging of his business. Um, and you

26:45know, to keep coming uh up here and uh

26:48and back and forth with uh the

26:50customer's son. Um, you know, I do think

26:54it's probably appropriate uh to not move

26:56forward with it um and allow him to um

27:00to fix the issue um and when everything

27:03is resolved and not you know um mess up

27:06the reputation of his of his company uh

27:08through this process. So um uh we

27:11haven't had opportunity because again as

27:14of Friday everything was was fixed but

27:16you know uh I would like um you all to

27:19ask the um uh the nominee uh does he

27:23want to you know continue through uh the

27:25administration's very comfortable uh

27:27with u not moving forward with this

27:30because of uh his company's reputation

27:32which he stated it uh in his email on

27:34Friday.

27:36So I hope that answers answers your

27:38question.

27:41Um, go go ahead, Dr. Salem.

27:46>> I would like to move an indefinite

27:49deferral

27:51until the issue is completely resolved

27:54and then he can come back where he's not

27:57coming back every 30 days or something.

27:59I think that's to his benefit. I'm

28:01trying to help him.

28:02>> Absolutely.

28:03>> And and so that you're not coming back

28:05and you have ample time to resolve it.

28:08And so when you do come back, it's

28:10hopefully it's a a fairly fairly uh

28:13it'll be a slam dunk, I hope, when you

28:15do come back.

28:17>> Is there if there's a second?

28:19>> We've got a motion and a second on a

28:22deferral. Um Miss Shell, uh can you make

28:27sure we're in the right right posture on

28:30this?

28:34>> Sure. The motion on the table is to

28:36defer it. It'll appear, it'll continue

28:38to appear on your committee agendas

28:40defer and each committee cycle you'll

28:44have to announce that it's being

28:45deferred. Um,

28:48but that's ready to uh to vote on.

28:51>> All right. Thank you. Uh, let me go

28:54through the queue here on the uh

28:57council member Bolan on the deferral.

29:02>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. [clears throat] I

29:04think I've served on the rules committee

29:07perhaps all eight years I've been on the

29:09council. Never once have we had a

29:12situation where an incident was put in

29:15place. The whole focus is on the

29:17qualifications and the ability of this

29:18person to serve in this position. His

29:20tenacity in this process tells me that

29:22he is and given his background as you

29:25hope we learned at notice meeting he

29:27does qualify to serve on this board. So

29:30I I I

29:32will support the deferral, but I I hope

29:34we don't create this as a habit or as a

29:37practice that we look at given

29:38situations as making a determination as

29:40to whether or not an individual is

29:42qualified to serve on a board. Thank

29:44you, Mr. Chair.

29:45>> All right, let me go to Council

29:46President Holland.

29:50>> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just um

29:52intrigued to know if you're going to

29:53support the deferral, not as chair,

29:55because a minute ago you said you'd

29:57rather go up and down on it. um some

29:59simply because this construction trades

30:02qualifying board is up your alley. Um

30:04you're intimately familiar with the

30:05situation. So wanted to see your

30:07thoughts.

30:08>> Right. Uh thank you sir. Um so you know

30:12I'm I'm open and to um listen to what

30:16the desire of the committee is but I

30:19also want to u poise the question is uh

30:24what Mr. Dennis had mentioned about the

30:28u ongoing

30:30I I guess scrutiny of of of his of the

30:33business to where if it's deferral and

30:36it keeps staying on the agenda that uh

30:40it's still going to be lingering to

30:42where uh if it's just done as a

30:45withdrawal and then come back at another

30:48point in time to re to reintroduce. I

30:51think that would probably a cleaner um

30:55pathway. So your thoughts on that, Mr.

30:58Mr. Dennis?

31:01Uh through the chair to the committee?

31:02Uh again, uh you know, one of the things

31:04that uh our appointee or nominee express

31:08is uh the reputation that this process

31:12is uh has done to his business. Uh which

31:15I I totally agree uh because in your

31:18notice meeting it was asked if he had

31:20any other issues and there were no other

31:21issues. Um your other colleague uh

31:24Councilman Carluchi um Matt Carluchi

31:27said, you know, if you're in business,

31:29you're going to have one customer uh

31:31that you no matter what you do, you're

31:33not going to be able to satisfy. Uh the

31:36administration, you know, we support uh

31:38our nominee. Um uh but again, you know,

31:41it's a decision and I hadn't had

31:43opportunity to to to talk to um to our

31:46nominee to see if uh if he want to if he

31:50if if he wants to move forward uh with

31:52with the new um uh issues that that

31:55arose uh last night. So through the

31:58chair, I would like um if if someone

32:00would ask him uh how does he feel about

32:03moving forward? But we support him. We

32:04support him, you know, uh, when we, uh,

32:07introduce the bill for his, uh, for his,

32:10uh, placement on the construction trade

32:12qualifying board.

32:13>> All right. Thank you. Let me, Miss

32:15Shell, real quick. Go ahead.

32:18>> The one other through the chair to the

32:19committee, the one other thing you may

32:20wish to consider is potentially

32:22withdrawing this bill and allowing the

32:24administration some time to uh, work

32:28with the appointee and and when they

32:30feel it's ready to to bring it forward

32:32again in another form. just an option.

32:36>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to Miss

32:39Clark Murray for the first time.

32:41>> Thank you, chair, and good morning again

32:42to everyone. So, I'm I'm going to echo

32:45the um sentiments of Council Member

32:47Boland because our our goal here is to

32:50look at the qualifications. So, I'm

32:51looking at the board qualifications. I'm

32:53assuming that three journeymen,

32:54craftsmen or master certificate is what

32:56you already have and that um you're

32:59filling a particular role on the board

33:02and that you have been engaged in the

33:04trade for at least um a period not less

33:08than three consecutive years. So that's

33:09that's the qualifications.

33:12And once again, Council Member Carluchi,

33:15Matt Carluchi, made a a poant statement

33:18the last time we met is that when you're

33:20in business, you're going to have

33:21someone who's not satisfied. But

33:23clearly, this gentleman is doing his

33:25very best to satisfy the the customer.

33:28Additionally, my question through the

33:29chair to Mr. Dennis is if we defer or

33:33withdraw this particular appointment um

33:37candidate,

33:38will it interfere with the business of

33:40the board?

33:43>> Uh through the chair to Councilman Clark

33:45Murray, it will not interfere with the

33:46business of the board.

33:48>> Thank you so much for that. Thank you,

33:50Chair.

33:50>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to Miss

33:52Pitman for the first time.

33:57woman, thank you for addressing those

33:59questions because that's what I was

34:01going to ask, but I'd like to know from

34:04you at this point in time.

34:08I I know you came here hoping that you

34:11we would vote on this today either up

34:14and down being that we've had the

34:16discussion.

34:18How do you feel at this point going

34:21forward? Do you want to go forward or

34:25would you like for us to withdraw?

34:28>> Um, I'll be very honest with you. I

34:30think this process has been very uh

34:32brutal overall. I mean, I think there's

34:34a lot of time spent. Uh, I understand

34:37like no not all customers are going to

34:39be happy. Uh, this particular one, he's

34:42definitely not happy. Uh, I am working

34:44with the rest of the family to make them

34:46happy. Maybe like not the full family

34:48will be happy, but at least some of them

34:50will be. Um my sentiments are are

34:54they're not very encouraging just

34:56because this this process of a

34:59volunteering position to serve the city

35:02has been very rough. I like I said I

35:04used to be in the Navy. I stood in a lot

35:06in front of a lot of people getting

35:07yelled at. Uh and um you know it's just

35:11it's just the the nature of the

35:12business. But this I think has hit a

35:15little bit different just because I

35:16don't just look out for myself but of

35:20course I have a business to look out

35:21for. Um you know this is bringing a lot

35:25of negative uh feedback. Um and a lot of

35:28constructive too let's not just take

35:31everything you know uh let's take the

35:33positive that comes out of everything.

35:35So, you know, the constructive thing is

35:37like, you know, obviously making sure

35:39that maybe they have some legal

35:43uh things in place so I'm able to at

35:45least uh help my business or protect my

35:48business. Um, you know, I do want to

35:51make sure also that you guys understand

35:52that I know that there's a lot of

35:54accusations that come up uh saying that

35:57I have done some things or not done some

35:59things and you know there's there's

36:02there's a story on every side and you

36:05know it's like perhaps I'm not spending

36:07minutes or hours or I don't have

36:09something drawn out to present to you uh

36:12to to uh to excuse myself for some of

36:15those things. But please know that there

36:17just because I don't do it because I

36:18want to keep things professional, focus

36:20on what the problem is, which is the

36:22unit is not working and we need to fix

36:24it.

36:26>> I I would just like to say, you know,

36:29it's very hard to find individuals who

36:33want to give back and be servants. If

36:36we're looking just at the

36:38qualifications,

36:40I think we should look at the

36:42qualifications. [clears throat]

36:44We all have people who don't like us,

36:46even as council members, you know, but

36:48that doesn't stop us from serving the

36:52community. And I I just would hate

36:55setting a precedence when people in our

36:58community would like to serve our

37:01community and we send them through so

37:04much scrutiny that they decide that they

37:07don't want to do it. I don't know all

37:10the circumstances of your situation.

37:13Um, but

37:16people deserve a chance if they want to

37:19serve. And so unfortunately

37:23um I'm sorry that you had to go through

37:25all of this and I wish it was a little

37:28bit different but I think when we're

37:32um doing the background and on on

37:36individuals

37:38um we need to find maybe just dig a

37:41little bit deeper and you know he came

37:44here for one thing and it ended up being

37:46something else. So all I'm saying is

37:49going forward either we look at their

37:52credentials

37:54and as if there's other things and we

37:56need to put that in writing before

37:58individuals um are interested in

38:02serving. Thank you.

38:04>> All right. Let me go to Councilman

38:05Amaro.

38:10>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um

38:13want to speak to the uh deferral for 10

38:16seconds. Basically, as I said here, my

38:19interpretation of the motion is uh not

38:23necessarily

38:24a a negative um position against the

38:27applicant um but more or less to say

38:31maybe he is a good applicant and maybe

38:34we need time to resolve whatever issues

38:36there are there are. Uh the issue of

38:39qualifications is fine, but the reality

38:42is that someone serving in that capacity

38:45must also meet a threshold of ethics.

38:48And if you're going into the position

38:50with a cloud over your head, there's a

38:52question. So the intangible part is the

38:55ethics of the individual. And that's

38:58what we're talking about here. If this

39:00one issue questions the ethics, then is

39:03that person prepared to serve? I I don't

39:06know about you all, but um

39:10I I believe a good name is better than

39:12precious ointment. And I believe that

39:15when it comes to your name, you do

39:16everything to protect your name. You do

39:18everything to clear your name. And I

39:20think that's what a deferral does. It

39:23doesn't harm the applicant. It doesn't

39:25injure the process. It just takes it to

39:28the next level that doesn't fit into the

39:30definition of qualifications and that is

39:33the ethics of the individual. Thank you.

39:36>> All right. Thank you.

39:39Okay. So, no other speakers in the queue

39:41on the U motion forward deferral. We've

39:46got a motion in a second. So, all in

39:49favor of deferral say I.

39:51>> I.

39:53>> None oppose. So, we'll go ahead and

39:56defer this until uh a resolution is is

40:02potentially reached and I guess Mr.

40:04Dennis uh you'll

40:07uh reach reach back out to us and uh

40:11hopefully we can get get some uh

40:15something resolution on this to get it

40:17put to bed. Uh I I would just like to

40:20add you know this this

40:24position is actually a governing

40:27position to where you are approving

40:31license holders. And so there there's a

40:34a point of life safety. There's a point

40:37of of governance that we've got to have

40:41individuals that are are are beyond any

40:44kind of uh uh any kind of reproach. And

40:48so this uh normally a applicant I

40:53wouldn't even uh question it but this

40:57this uh uh applicant I I started

41:00receiving uh informations about concerns

41:04and uh from code enforcement and

41:08different things. So and that's what

41:10this committee is about. We've got to do

41:12the deep dive into make sure we get the

41:14right people in the right place. And so

41:18uh

41:20and I'll just leave that there. So item

41:23number 2026 0517

41:26is deferred.

41:28Thank you Mr. Laro. Thank you for being

41:30here.

41:31>> All right. The next item uh 17 on page

41:3511

41:402026 0725. Can a motion on the bill?

41:44>> Move the bill.

41:44>> Second. I've got a motion and a second

41:47on the bill. M uh Leroy C. Kelly, come

41:51on down. And if you would to uh just

41:55give a little bit of uh your heart's

41:58desire to uh certain on the member of

42:00the taxation, revenue, and utilization

42:03expenditures, the true commission.

42:06>> Yes. My name is Leroy C. Kelly, 8443

42:10Finch Avenue, East, Jacksonville,

42:11Florida, 32219.

42:16just go ahead and uh give us a little

42:18bit of your desire.

42:19>> Oh, okay. I'm a part of the CPAC

42:23committee district five and and our

42:28previous uh appointee had um term limits

42:31has called her to be to have to come off

42:33the board. The true commission as a

42:36result um they voted me in to become a

42:39part of that commission. This is my

42:42second goound. and I've served on it in

42:44the past and I've come back um to serve

42:48once more again.

42:53>> All right. Thank you. I've got uh

42:55Council Member Clark Murray in the

42:57queue.

42:58>> Thank you, Chair. Good morning, Pastor

43:00Kelly. You doing okay today?

43:02>> Good morning.

43:03>> Good morning, sir. I have known uh

43:05Pastor Kelly or Mr. Kelly for quite some

43:07time. um spec in particular when I

43:11served on the Northwest CPAC and so I

43:13know that he's faithful. I know that he

43:15is personable. I know that he will

43:18present the information to the CPAC and

43:21vice versa bring the information to the

43:24true commission. So I um I want to

43:26co-sponsor this particular uh appointee

43:29and with that I hope you all approve

43:32them. Thank you.

43:33>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

43:34Council Member Pitman.

43:40Good morning, Mr. Kelly. I just You just

43:43mentioned that you served on the

43:44committee before. Yes. I guess it's been

43:47how long ago?

43:48>> Oh,

43:49>> it was prior to the appointed that's

43:52coming off now. I think it's about

43:54>> four years, three or four, four or five

43:55years ago.

43:56>> Okay. So, what did you like um by

44:00serving on the committee? I know you

44:02want to come back. So what is what is it

44:04that you did as a member of that

44:06committee?

44:08>> What did I do?

44:09>> Yes, sir.

44:10>> Well, I was as at as as a part of the

44:13committee, I reviewed all the

44:14information that came before us and

44:16scrutinized the the activity that we had

44:18to look at and help come to a a

44:21resolution as to what direction we

44:23should be going.

44:25>> Okay. Well, thank you. I just also like

44:27to echo uh what you said, Councilwoman.

44:31Um Pastor Kelly is very involved in the

44:34community and very vocal, and if it's

44:37not right, he's going to let you know

44:39how he feels. So, we thank you for your

44:42interest in serving our committee uh on

44:46that committee as well as on the CPAC.

44:48Thank you.

44:49>> Thank you.

44:50>> All right. No other speakers in the

44:52queue. Uh let's open the ballot and

44:54record your vote. Eight

45:01yays, zero nays.

45:02>> All right. By your action, you've

45:03approved 2026 0725.

45:06So, Mr. Kelly, if you uh uh want to be

45:09here Tuesday night, next council

45:12meeting, we'll uh after the vote, we'll

45:14announce your name and uh welcome him to

45:17welcome you to the service in the city

45:20and thank you for all you do, sir.

45:22>> Okay. And thank you to committee. But

45:24you don't you don't have to be here.

45:26It's is if you want to be here.

45:27>> Okay.

45:28>> But thank you.

45:29>> Thank you.

45:29>> All right. The next item number 18

45:31202260726.

45:34Get a motion on the bill. Move

45:36>> it. Second.

45:36>> I've got a motion to second on the bills

45:39is Danette J. Henderson Hernandez here.

45:45come on down and if you would just give

45:48a a brief

45:50description of your desire to serve on

45:53the Council of Elder Affairs.

45:57>> Good morning, chairman, members of the

45:58rules committee. Thank you for the

46:00opportunity to speak with you today. My

46:02name is Danette Hernandez and I'm

46:04seeking appointment with the Council on

46:05Elder Affairs because I believe

46:08Jacksonville seniors deserve clear

46:09communication, responsive support, and

46:12strong advocacy for those who serve

46:15them. My commitment to this work comes

46:17from years of hands-on experience

46:19supporting elderly veterans and older

46:21adults in crisis. As chairman of the

46:24Veterans Council of Duval County and a

46:26former state commander of the Veterans

46:28and Foreign Wars, I've seen firsthand

46:30how easily seniors can become isolated

46:33by transportation barriers, food

46:35insecurity, unsafe housing, or systems

46:38that are too complex to navigate alone.

46:40Those experiences shaped my belief that

46:42compassion must be paired with action.

46:44In my professional role as a credentiing

46:47specialist, I condented

46:49multiple physicians, nurse

46:51practitioners, and physicians assistants

46:54across 11 local hospitals. Work that

46:56required organization, attention to

46:58detail, and the ability to move through

47:01complex processes without losing sight

47:03of the people who depend on them. I

47:05bring those same skills to my advocacy,

47:08listening carefully, engaging

47:09stakeholders directly, and following

47:12through until a problem is solved. Most

47:14more importantly, I believe a servant

47:16bring a servant leadership approach.

47:19I've sat with seniors who felt forgotten

47:21and I have worked until they received

47:23the help they needed. If appointed, I

47:25will meet Jacksonville's elderly where

47:27they are, ensure their concerns are

47:29heard, and help strengthen the

47:30communication and outreach that connects

47:32them to vital resources. I am ready to

47:35collaborate with this council, support

47:37the city's priorities, and help ensure

47:39that no senior in Jacksonville feels

47:42invisible or unsupported. Thank you for

47:45your time and consideration.

47:46>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

47:48Council President Howland.

47:50>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Danny Hernandez

47:52is a good friend. Um she's a veteran

47:54advocate for veterans all across

47:56Northeast Florida, and she's a recent

47:58nominee to the Florida Veteran Hall of

48:00Fame. Danny Hernandez cares about our

48:02community and she has my full

48:04endorsement. Thank you, sir.

48:05>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

48:07Council Member Amaro.

48:10>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Mr. President

48:12took the words out of my mouth.

48:14[laughter]

48:15Uh Danny, as she is known, uh thank you

48:18for putting yourself forward. Um, from

48:21what I've seen in my short uh encounter

48:23with you is that you truly have a

48:25servant's heart uh for service and it's

48:27well known within the veterans community

48:29and I'm pretty sure you'll serve uh with

48:32the elderly community 100%. So, thank

48:35you.

48:36>> All right. Thank you, Council Member

48:37Lannon.

48:38>> Uh thank you, Chair. Uh please add me as

48:40a co-sponsor. And again, nothing new for

48:42me. I was just going to say I feel like

48:43whenever I go to a veterans event, uh

48:45chances are Miss Hernandez is there

48:46supporting our veterans community. So

48:48looking forward to her serving in this

48:50role as well. Good to see you this

48:51morning, ma'am.

48:52>> All right. Thank you. Please add me as a

48:55co-sponsor as well. No other speakers in

48:58the queue. Open a ballot and record your

49:01vote.

49:09>> Eight yays, zero ns.

49:10>> By your approved 2026 0726.

49:14And

49:16council president

49:18Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, thank you for

49:21letting me speak real quick. It's not

49:22about Danny or uh the next uh

49:25recommendation. It's um about item

49:27number 47. Unfortunately, I have to

49:29leave. Um item number 47 is the

49:31emergency. I'm I'm not asking you to

49:32take it up now. The nominees have a a

49:34preference, but if I can, if it's proper

49:36posture, I'd just like to say a few

49:37things to leave when you do end up

49:38taking it. Okay. It's the JTA bill. Um

49:42JTA asked me about three weeks ago if we

49:45could do an emergency in and out um of

49:46this bill on budget night. And because

49:49that would have been a long discussion

49:51and it was budget night, I asked them if

49:52we could please just do a one cycle

49:54emergency. They agreed um and we put it

49:57through all four committees to make sure

49:58that everyone got a chance to see this

50:01bill and vote on it today. Um because it

50:03will, if it passes, will go into effect

50:06at the full council vote on the 13th.

50:08Um,

50:10one thing that they also brought this

50:12bill through uh the administration who

50:14did something very prudent and I agreed

50:16with them. It went from just being able

50:17to open up logt uh to help pay off their

50:20line of credit to u making it a loan so

50:23they can pay off their line of credit

50:24and then get a no interest loan and they

50:26pay back. So it's not like we're using

50:27the logt as a um taxpayer bailout.

50:30instead um JTA will have to refill that

50:34loan so or that LOGT so it can be used

50:37for completion projects and mobility and

50:39transit projects as planned. Um so all

50:42of that um came into play. One thing I

50:45asked them, you'll see today,

50:47neighborhoods will see it, TEU will see

50:48it, and finance will see it, is they're

50:50going to present about a a short

50:5115minute um overview of the forecast for

50:55how they got to the fiscal year 2526

50:59um number, which just finished, as we

51:00all know, last week, and the budget that

51:03we approved, 2627, how they're going to

51:05achieve it. So, I imagine um uh

51:08Cleveland and Randall will come up and

51:10and share that detail. I'll be watching

51:12from afar, but I won't be here. So, I

51:14just wanted to give that background. Um,

51:15I'm really pleased with JTA that they

51:17were amendable to doing a one cycle

51:19instead of in and out. And I'm really

51:20happy that they're going to present the

51:22data on the forecast for current uh the

51:24year just passed and the data on the

51:25budget for the year we just entered here

51:27before you get to vote. Thank you.

51:29>> All right. Thank you. All right. I'd

51:31like to uh add to Miss Hernandez,

51:34Tuesday night, we will uh read um read

51:37your names out after uh the vote and uh

51:41recognize you. So if you would like to

51:43be here uh plea please come and attend

51:46and we appreciate your service.

51:48All right the next item uh will be item

51:51number 21 2026 0729

51:58move it

51:58>> I've got a motion and a second on the

52:01bill is miss is Liz McDonald here. All

52:06right, give us a little bit of your

52:08desire to serve on the cultural council

52:10of greater Jacksonville.

52:12>> Good morning, council, and thank you so

52:14much, Mr. Chair. Um, it is my pleasure

52:17to stand before you and ask for this

52:19appointment for the cultural council of

52:21Greater Jacksonville board. Um, before I

52:25managed James Weld and Johnson Park as

52:27the executive director of Friends of

52:28James Weld and Johnson Park, I was a

52:31theatrical producer in New York City.

52:33And uh, I produced such shows as

52:36Jacqueline Hyde uh, and worked on shows

52:40such as um, Susical the Musical and

52:43Rent. And those shows not only performed

52:46in New York City, but also toured

52:47throughout the country, including Radio

52:50City Music Hall, uh, Red Rocks

52:52Amphitheater, and including Jacksonville

52:55Performing Arts Center. And after about

52:58two decades of producing theater in New

53:00York City, I thought, you know, the

53:03daily grind here in New York is getting

53:05pretty rough. I want to go to a place

53:08where I know I can enjoy, and that was

53:10Jacksonville. I called up my friends

53:12that were uh managing SMG and said,

53:16"Hey, can I move here?" And they first

53:19pointed me the director of the

53:21Jacksonville Performing Arts Center and

53:22the Ritz Theater Museum. So, I've been

53:25here in Jacksonville since 2013

53:29and working alongside the local arts

53:32community and I really appreciate this

53:35place and this uh town and given the

53:39fact that I have a commercial background

53:42in theater production, I do think that

53:45I've come from a unique perspective of

53:47arts as an economic driver. And that's

53:50what I hope to impart as a board member

53:54of the Cultural Council of Greater

53:55Jacksonville, just how important it is

53:58for arts and culture scene in

54:00Jacksonville to grow and thrive.

54:02>> Thank you so much.

54:03>> If you would give your name and address

54:05for the record.

54:05>> I am Liz McDonald, 1520 Alfred Place,

54:09apartment 216 32207.

54:12>> Thank you. Let me go to Council Member

54:14Bolan.

54:16>> Thank you, Chair. food chair, Miss

54:18McDonald. What's your familiarity with

54:20the cultural council? It's in its role.

54:23And have you had interfaced with Miss

54:25Donovan at all as as part of your

54:27nomination?

54:28>> I sure have. So, in my um time at uh the

54:32Jacksonville Performing Arts Center, I

54:34started out with Bob White, who of

54:36course was the original um director of

54:38the cultural council and have worked

54:40with every single executive director

54:42since. Um I am uh Diana Donovan has been

54:47on the board of the friends of James

54:50Weld and Johnson Park. So she and I are

54:53very close. Um and we we of course work

54:57together. I was also one of the grant uh

55:02I helped the grants that were for the

55:05individual artist grants and I was one

55:07of the coaches for that event. So, I was

55:10deeply involved in that process and I

55:13was also uh recognized by uh Diana

55:16Donovan and the cultural council during

55:182021 for all of the efforts that I had

55:21at James Weld and Johnson Park where we

55:24employ about 700 local creatives every

55:28year and uh privately fund about

55:31$100,000 to local artists every year.

55:36>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

55:38council member Pitman.

55:43>> Good morning, Liz. First of all, I'm so

55:46excited for you to even consider

55:50[clears throat] being on the cultural

55:51council. I would tell you all I have

55:54watched list over the years, put

55:56different events together and probably

55:59most of their entertainers that have

56:03come through the James Weld and Johnson

56:05Park are also probably recipients of the

56:09cultural council and the group has been

56:12very diverse over the years. She is a

56:15hard worker. she's going to make sure

56:18from the beginning to the end that it's

56:20going to be done right. So, I think she

56:22would definitely be uh fresh a breath

56:26air um as well to the cultural council

56:30because of her background and and what

56:32she brings. So, I would ask you all to

56:34consider um supporting her as well.

56:37>> All right. Thank you, Miss Clark Murray.

56:40Did you good? Okay. No other speakers in

56:43the queue. Let's open the ballot and

56:44record your vote.

57:40You want to vote again? All right,

57:42please vote again.

57:59Seven yay, zero nays.

58:00>> All right. By your action, you've

58:02approved 2026 0729.

58:05And you're welcome to come Tuesday night

58:07after the the vote. You'll be

58:09recognized. And uh we appreciate your

58:11service. Thank you.

58:12>> Thank you so much.

58:14>> All right. The next item that we'll go

58:17to is item number 22, 2026 0730. Get a

58:23motion on the bill.

58:24>> Second.

58:24>> I've got a motion and a second on the

58:27bill. Is Mr. Christopher Dristopher

58:33Dafo

58:35D.

58:37>> Yeah, that's it.

58:39>> All right.

58:40>> Everyone struggles with that. give a

58:42little bit of your desire to uh serve

58:45serve on the member of the opioid

58:47substance and use disorder committee.

58:51>> Yeah. So, Christano, 12925 Hunt Club

58:54Road, uh District 3. Um I reached out to

58:58Councilman Lannon and discussed my uh

59:02healthc care professional background.

59:04I'm a physician uh in the community

59:06right now volunteering and I have 10

59:09years of experience with um reviewing

59:11grants and writing grants in healthc

59:14care and uh Councilman Lannon um

59:17introduced me to Dr. Johi who uh said

59:20there was an opening on the opioid use

59:22disorder uh commission and I felt like

59:26that was a very good fit for some of my

59:29skill sets and um I've gone to one of

59:31the meetings and um and and know many of

59:35the organizations that are uh part that

59:38that are receiving funding. So I do very

59:40much wish to be on the committee and

59:42commission and uh work with others on

59:45it. Uh so I appreciate consideration of

59:49my nomination.

59:53>> Thank you. Let me go to uh council

59:55member Lannon.

59:57>> Thank you chair through the chair to Dr.

59:59Stafido. Thank you for coming forward

1:00:00and to the committee. He is my neighbor

1:00:02but he had reached out to me a few

1:00:04months ago. Uh I think he's uh not quite

1:00:07saying just how accomplished he is. He

1:00:09has his doctorate from Mayo and he's

1:00:11actually a Jacksonville native as well.

1:00:13So very accomplished in his profession.

1:00:15So, I hope everyone will support this.

1:00:17Just another great example of someone

1:00:18from the community reaching out and

1:00:20willing to put their profession to good

1:00:21use on a volunteer board.

1:00:24>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

1:00:25Council Member Marorrow.

1:00:29>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Dr. Steph, can

1:00:33I call you that? [laughter]

1:00:34>> D or Dano,

1:00:39>> thank you for uh putting yourself

1:00:40forward and for responding to my uh

1:00:43questions. Uh I am extremely confident

1:00:46that whatever you bring to the board

1:00:48will be of significant benefit to not

1:00:50just the board uh but the community it

1:00:53serves. So thank you for putting

1:00:54yourself forward.

1:00:55>> Thank you.

1:00:56>> All right. Thank you. Now let me go to

1:00:58Dr. Salem.

1:01:01>> Thank you chair. Um Dr. Dustafano I

1:01:05think I said that correctly. Welcome. Um

1:01:09many of us worked very hard to get this

1:01:12committee established to get the money

1:01:15into the government a few years ago and

1:01:17it's been now working for now for two to

1:01:20three years doing a lot of good work out

1:01:23there. So um I am the leazison to that

1:01:26committee try to attend all the meetings

1:01:28because it's very important to me. So

1:01:30welcome and uh we're going to put you to

1:01:33work very quickly. Thank you.

1:01:35>> Thank you. All right. Very good. No

1:01:38other speakers in the queue. Let's open

1:01:40the ballot and record your vote.

1:01:46>> Seven yays, zero nays.

1:01:48>> By your approved 2026 0730.

1:01:52So, Dr. Steph, if you want to come

1:01:54Tuesday night, we'll uh announce your

1:01:57name after you're voted on and uh we

1:02:00appreciate your service to the city. So,

1:02:02thank you for being here.

1:02:03>> Thank you very much.

1:02:04Next item number 23, 2026 0731. Get a

1:02:08motion on the bill.

1:02:10>> Second.

1:02:10>> I got a motion to second on the bill. Is

1:02:12Alex Savar here?

1:02:19>> All right. Come on down, Mr. Savar, and

1:02:22give a little bit of your desire to

1:02:24serve on the U JH.

1:02:30>> Good morning through the chair. Good

1:02:32morning to all the board members. I'm

1:02:34council members. Um my name is Alex

1:02:37Civar and my um address is on the

1:02:39record.

1:02:41When the mayor's office asked me to

1:02:45move from my existing um volunteer work

1:02:50at the uh public service grants

1:02:52commission. I took this as a compliment.

1:02:55I said this is something I'm very

1:02:57passionate about. affordable housing,

1:02:59safe housing, and the housing for all

1:03:02those who cannot afford because in the

1:03:04public service grants, we deal with the

1:03:06most vulnerable population of

1:03:07Jacksonville. And I'm very happy to to

1:03:11be considered for this. And I'll do all

1:03:14my best to serve um on this council, on

1:03:18this board, and Councilman Bolan,

1:03:21Councilman Len, both of them know me

1:03:23from the public service grant

1:03:25commission. Thank you.

1:03:27>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

1:03:28council member Bolan.

1:03:30>> Thank you Mr. Chair. Let [clears throat]

1:03:32please add first of all please add me as

1:03:33a co-sponsor. Uh Alex is is a friend

1:03:36number one but uh as a leazison for the

1:03:38PSG council I've saw him actively be

1:03:41engaged in that process chairing one of

1:03:43the committees as a matter of fact and I

1:03:45think his uh addition and transfer from

1:03:48from the PSG council to the um JHA again

1:03:52where I serve as a liazison. I'm looking

1:03:54forward to his participation. and I know

1:03:56he's going to be every much engaged

1:03:58there as he was with the PSG. Thank you.

1:04:01>> All right. Thank you. No other speakers

1:04:03in the queue. Let's open a ballot and

1:04:05record your vote.

1:04:11>> Seven yay, zero naz.

1:04:13>> All right. By your action approved 2026

1:04:150731.

1:04:17And Mr. Savar will uh announce your name

1:04:20Tuesday at the council meeting after the

1:04:23vote. And you're welcome to be here. is

1:04:24not required, but you're welcome to be

1:04:26here to be recognized. Thank you for

1:04:27>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1:04:29>> All right. Next item number 24, 2026

1:04:320732.

1:04:33Okay.

1:04:35>> I've got a motion and a second on the

1:04:37bill is Sean Turker. Here, come on down

1:04:42and give a little bit of the desire to

1:04:44serve as a public on the PSG.

1:04:49>> Good morning, chair and members of the

1:04:52rules committee. My name is Sean Turker.

1:04:54>> Try to speak a little bit closer to the

1:04:56microphone. There you go.

1:04:57>> I'm honored to be considered for

1:04:59appointment to the public service grant

1:05:01commission. I was born in Turkey and

1:05:03have been proud

1:05:06to call uh Jacksonville home for 38

1:05:08years. I met my wife here and together

1:05:11we raised our uh two daughters in this

1:05:13community. I earned my uh undergraduate

1:05:16degree from for computer science and

1:05:19master degree in health informatics from

1:05:22Jacksonville University. Um for the last

1:05:2532 years [clears throat] I have worked

1:05:28as an IT professional for Mayo Clinic.

1:05:32Over that time I've seen Mayo Clinic

1:05:34grow from Davis building and several

1:05:37single wide trailers to organization it

1:05:40is today. That experience has taught me

1:05:43the importance of responsible

1:05:45responsibility um stewardship, careful

1:05:49decision making and long-term

1:05:51commitment. Um if appointed um I'll

1:05:55bring my life experience, education,

1:05:57professional background and commitment

1:05:59to service to this uh commission. I will

1:06:03approach each decision with fairness,

1:06:05transparency, respect, and focus on

1:06:07helping the people of Jacksonville.

1:06:09Thank you for your consideration.

1:06:12>> All right. Thank you. I don't have any

1:06:15speakers in the queue. Let's open a

1:06:17ballot and record your vote.

1:06:24>> Seven yay, zero n

1:06:25>> by your action approved 2026 0732.

1:06:29And Mr. Turker as well, uh Tuesday

1:06:32night, it's not required, but uh you can

1:06:34be here and we'll recognize you after

1:06:36the uh the vote. So, thank you for your

1:06:38service. Next Tuesday.

1:06:40>> Next next Tuesday, right? Not this

1:06:44Tuesday, but ne next Tuesday at the

1:06:46council meeting. Thank you, Council

1:06:47Member Landon. All right. So, that takes

1:06:50us to

1:06:53the item 47. I'm not going to move it

1:06:56yet. I'm going to go ahead and have JTA

1:06:58come up to do their 15minute

1:07:01presentation and then we'll take action

1:07:03on the bill.

1:07:05>> Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman, members of

1:07:07the uh committee, Cleveland Ferguson,

1:07:09JTA, uh just want to reiterate what the

1:07:13council president articulated uh just

1:07:16before he left. Uh our board has uh

1:07:20endorsed uh this bill. Uh I thank uh on

1:07:24behalf of the board and uh the staff of

1:07:26the JTA uh the mayor and the city

1:07:29council for considering uh this

1:07:31opportunity. Uh these are funds that we

1:07:34have collected uh since 2021 uh in

1:07:37partnership uh with the city of

1:07:39Jacksonville in the context of the LOGT2

1:07:44um

1:07:45legislation uh and intergovernmental

1:07:48agreement. Uh and as this team continues

1:07:50to stabilize today to restore tomorrow,

1:07:53this is a key piece of our ability to

1:07:57start FY27

1:07:59uh closer uh to where we need to be uh

1:08:02in order to meet uh the responsibilities

1:08:04of the budget. So without further ado,

1:08:06I'm going to bring up uh our CFO,

1:08:08Randall Barnes, who will take you

1:08:10through the presentation.

1:08:16>> Good morning. Randall Barnes, chief

1:08:17financial officer for the JTA. Uh thank

1:08:20you for the opportunity to go over this

1:08:22presentation with you. I'm going to give

1:08:24a a little uh overview of what happened

1:08:27in fiscal year 26

1:08:29and the generation of the fiscal year uh

1:08:3227 budget. Um just talk about some of

1:08:35the details of that.

1:08:39So in the JTA board approved its fiscal

1:08:43year 26 budget back in May of 2025.

1:08:47Uh fiscal year in 25 results showed tax

1:08:50sales tax revenues were down about 8.3

1:08:53million under budget uh continuing a

1:08:56trend from the prior year and we had a

1:08:59total shortfall of 19 million in fiscal

1:09:02year 25.

1:09:04Even with the smaller budget in fiscal

1:09:06year 26, uh first quarter of fiscal year

1:09:0926 showed a continued softening of sales

1:09:11tax revenues. In addition, there were

1:09:14continued cost pressures. Uh connection

1:09:17plus costs were not budgeted due to

1:09:19expected service cuts. Uh those those

1:09:22cuts did not ultimately take place. And

1:09:25also we had uh costs for Navi and Skyway

1:09:28that were higher than expected.

1:09:31So after the in February of fiscal year

1:09:3526, the staff recommended amending the

1:09:37budget within with the JTA board to

1:09:40address the projected revenue shortfall.

1:09:44This slide gives a quick overview of the

1:09:47fiscal year 26 budget amendment that the

1:09:50board approved in February.

1:09:52the the drivers were lower expectations

1:09:55for sales tax revenues and interest

1:09:57earnings as well as passenger fairs

1:10:01um making a total shortfall of about

1:10:03$14.2 million.

1:10:06So in order to balance the budget at

1:10:08that time operating expense cuts were

1:10:10focused on staffing costs and services.

1:10:13So there were reductions in force

1:10:15employee furlows were planned and also

1:10:18there were professional service

1:10:19contracts that were planned to be cut.

1:10:22So ultimately the budget amendment

1:10:23addressed the expected revenue shortfall

1:10:26but was not sufficient to address the

1:10:28full cost to provide services.

1:10:33This slide shows an overview of the

1:10:36reporting that took place during fiscal

1:10:37year 26. At the top of the page were

1:10:40reports that we provided to the city of

1:10:43Jacksonville. Those are quarterly

1:10:44reports that we provide. Um, and then

1:10:48below that are the reports to the JTA

1:10:50board of directors.

1:10:52In Q1 and Q2 reports to COJ, JTA

1:10:56reported year-to- date deficits, but

1:10:58staff projected to end the year flat.

1:11:01Fiscal year-end projections in Q1 can be

1:11:04challenging no matter no matter where

1:11:06you are. But there should have been more

1:11:09informed. This projections made at Q2.

1:11:12Um ultimately the projections to city

1:11:15council were were were flat. I think

1:11:17that was a result of expectation that

1:11:19the amendment that was put in place was

1:11:21going to take care of uh the the issues

1:11:25but that ultimately did not happen. Uh

1:11:27Q3 projections painted a more realistic

1:11:30picture. So we we shared a projection of

1:11:35uh 32.8 8 million by fiscal year end

1:11:39with the with the council auditors uh in

1:11:41the city uh to the board. Prior to that,

1:11:44we had shared a uh actual results of

1:11:4825.2 million. We don't typically or

1:11:50historically haven't provided

1:11:52projections to the board. Uh that's

1:11:54something that will change here soon.

1:11:57But um there's a discrepancy there. The

1:12:00council auditors actually pointed out to

1:12:01us that that we had been characterizing

1:12:05the uh by mistake the uh the local

1:12:10option gas tax uh reporting. So we had

1:12:13budgeted on a net basis and were showing

1:12:16in our reports to the um in our reports

1:12:19to the board uh gross actuals. They

1:12:23didn't take into account the expected

1:12:24debt service. So, we made that

1:12:26correction in our July and August uh

1:12:31board reports and obviously it's

1:12:32corrected in the June 2026 quarterly

1:12:35report to the city.

1:12:38Currently, we're still projecting a

1:12:40shortfall for fiscal year year end 20

1:12:43uh6 of about 39 million. Uh so we will

1:12:46need to make an amendment to the uh 26

1:12:50budget uh you know once the once the

1:12:52numbers are all in and and we can and

1:12:54come through the council to do that.

1:12:58So overall fiscal year 26 the the budget

1:13:02was was ultimately flawed. There were

1:13:04optimistic revenue projections and

1:13:07unsupported cost to provide service

1:13:09levels. Uh the budget amendment in 20

1:13:12February fixed the revenue shortfall but

1:13:15cost reductions were insufficient.

1:13:19Uh staff recommended in the JTA board

1:13:22approved route changes and fair

1:13:23modifications during the year. Those are

1:13:25planned to be were planned to be

1:13:27implemented in fiscal year 27 and are

1:13:30being implemented.

1:13:32Um there were various financial

1:13:34reporting issues, errors, lack of rigor

1:13:37and variance analysis and fiscal year

1:13:39end projections and those weren't

1:13:41helpful helpful for them informing

1:13:43decision makers. So both staff and the

1:13:46board.

1:13:47Insufficient revenues led to the

1:13:49depletion of reserve balances and a

1:13:51significant buildup of payables. And

1:13:54then a line of credit was authorized to

1:13:56provide liquidity support which was used

1:13:58to cover pass through invoices and give

1:14:00JTA time to make necessary adjustments.

1:14:04Admit leadership changes. Deliberate

1:14:05action was taken in September 2026 to

1:14:08ensure costs were supported by available

1:14:10revenues in the new fiscal year and

1:14:12restore JTA's financial health.

1:14:17The fiscal year 27 budget was approved

1:14:20by the board earlier this earlier this

1:14:22year and it was approved at 139.2

1:14:25million dollars and ultimately approved

1:14:27by the city council last month.

1:14:31Uh during the budget hearing process,

1:14:33the count council auditor's office

1:14:34indicated the revenue assumptions seemed

1:14:36reasonable but had a large number of

1:14:38comments about the expense assumptions.

1:14:42We as staff performed a comprehensive

1:14:44review of existing cost commitments and

1:14:46confirmed that the ability to proceed

1:14:48without implementing significant cost

1:14:50cutting measures was impossible. So the

1:14:53actions that we took over the last few

1:14:55weeks were specifically designed to

1:14:57ensure we were able to stay within the

1:14:59139.2 2 million budget and that includes

1:15:03allowance for the debt service of

1:15:04approximately 1.5 million per year on

1:15:07the line of credit and a very small

1:15:10contingency to allow for unexpected cost

1:15:13or lower than expected revenues.

1:15:15Any surplus in 27 will be used to reduce

1:15:18the line of credit or rebuild reserve

1:15:21levels.

1:15:23So what actions did we take? Um

1:15:27we are we are cutting professional

1:15:29service contracts and making planned

1:15:31service changes worth about 24.9 million

1:15:34this fiscal year. This fiscal year 27.

1:15:37Um we have put in place reductions in

1:15:41force of approximately 200 employees

1:15:44through November 1st already meant the

1:15:47departure of 33 administrative folks and

1:15:5026 operators.

1:15:52Skyway passenger service ends November

1:15:541st and Navi runs through December 31st.

1:15:58We are pausing service, not abandoning

1:16:01the assets and our team will keep

1:16:03maintaining them. And we will begin

1:16:06running a modified Saturday schedule

1:16:08beginning November 2nd and paratransit

1:16:11service will not change.

1:16:16So there are uh you know as with any

1:16:19budget some risks. Um if there are lower

1:16:21than expected revenues that's something

1:16:23we would have to deal with. We we

1:16:24actually believe that the tax revenue

1:16:26assumptions are conservative. Uh so we

1:16:29don't think that's a large risk. There

1:16:31is a there is a risk of that passenger

1:16:33fair revenue may be be impacted due to

1:16:35the service changes but they should be

1:16:38somewhat offset by the planned fair

1:16:40increase in January which wasn't

1:16:42considered in the in the original fiscal

1:16:44year 27 budget.

1:16:46Also, there could be higher than

1:16:48expected expenditures. Uh we believe the

1:16:51recent actions were sufficient to stay

1:16:54under the budget for fiscal year 27. Uh

1:16:57we have placed systematic budget

1:16:59controls uh starting October 1st to

1:17:03ensure spending cannot happen without

1:17:05available budget. That's something that

1:17:07we did not have uh last year. We are

1:17:10also implementing a business services

1:17:12unit reporting to me that will control

1:17:15and coordinate all financial related

1:17:17activities within each division. So that

1:17:20includes contracting, payments, budget

1:17:22tracking, variance analysis, and

1:17:25reporting.

1:17:27So management and JTA board will have

1:17:29the accurate and timely financial

1:17:30information necessary to take swift

1:17:32action to mitigate the risk of missing

1:17:34the the 27 budget.

1:17:37And this bill uh provides additional

1:17:39headway to help mitigate either risk. So

1:17:42just quickly wanted to go over this

1:17:45bill. What it does do is allow GATA to

1:17:48borrow up to 30 million of LOGT2 funds

1:17:51to pay down the line of credit currently

1:17:5325 million or for other eligible

1:17:56expenditures.

1:17:58The current balance of the funds is

1:17:59approximately 47 million and the funds

1:18:02are currently restricted to the LOGT2

1:18:05projects.

1:18:06JTA will pay back the balance of the

1:18:08amount borrowed without interest by

1:18:10September 30th, 2037. This helps JTA

1:18:14avoid approximately 3 million of

1:18:16interest expense over the next two years

1:18:19or more if JTA needed to renew the line

1:18:21when it expires in two years for a

1:18:23longer period of time. This gives JTA

1:18:26more time to pay back the amount

1:18:27borrowed and provides more flexibility

1:18:29into the line of credit to manage cash

1:18:31flows. What it does not do is change or

1:18:34delay existing projects or inhibit

1:18:36future discussions about the LGT2

1:18:38revenues or project plans. Um, that

1:18:41concludes our presentation. We are happy

1:18:43to take any questions you might have.

1:18:49>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

1:18:50Council Member Lannon.

1:18:52>> Thank you, Chair, and through the chair,

1:18:53Mr. Barnes. Uh, thank you for the

1:18:54presentation. And uh thank you for the

1:18:56honesty because a lot of the uh words we

1:18:59saw in there were things that we've been

1:19:00saying up here for a while. Uh in fact

1:19:03uh I pulled it up. Uh I asked my first

1:19:05question about JTA's finances on January

1:19:075th and it was because of our council

1:19:09auditors who have been pointing it out

1:19:11for months now. Their exact wording was

1:19:13the financial report of the JTA

1:19:16uh the financial report of the

1:19:17Jacksonville Transportation Authority

1:19:18for the 12 months ending September 30th,

1:19:212025 indicates budgetary stress for JTA.

1:19:25So that's what kind of got a lot of our

1:19:27questions going uh very early on in the

1:19:29year. And I've said that my my biggest

1:19:32concern was uh just the I I think there

1:19:34was just bad budgeting. It was a bad

1:19:36budget put together. It kind of

1:19:38surprises me that your board does not

1:19:39get projections because projections are

1:19:42way more important than actuals for most

1:19:44corporations. So I was surprised to see

1:19:45that and that's a good practice going

1:19:47forward. Uh but as far as where we're at

1:19:49now, uh one question I have for you

1:19:51through the chair, Mr. Barnes, if I

1:19:52followed the presentation correctly, you

1:19:55are now with the changes you've made,

1:19:57you're at a balanced budget. In other

1:19:59words, the chances of u having a slight

1:20:02surplus are the same as having a slight

1:20:05deficit by the end of the year. Is that

1:20:06correct

1:20:07>> through the chair to council member

1:20:09Landon? That's correct. We have we have

1:20:11taken action to get us in a posture to

1:20:13where we should have a balanced budget

1:20:16>> through the chair. Thank you for that,

1:20:17Mr. Barnes. That gives me comfort in

1:20:18that you won't be coming back and asking

1:20:20for another $30 million chunk. Uh so

1:20:23we've had a lot of conversations. I

1:20:25understand the mechanism of how we're

1:20:26going to use this money now and it's a

1:20:28loan uh from LOGT to go back to LOGT. We

1:20:31don't have to change any projects. What

1:20:33are the next steps when it comes to

1:20:35discussing that project list? And I know

1:20:37it's going to take all sides involved on

1:20:39that because I know there is a lot uh of

1:20:41will on this council to reook at that

1:20:44list uh based on uh what was approved

1:20:46then versus what we think our priorities

1:20:48may be now.

1:20:50>> Uh thank you uh through the chair to

1:20:52council member. I'll take a stab at that

1:20:54and then Cleveland can fill in if he

1:20:55thinks otherwise. But we are undergoing

1:20:57the the finance audit and oversight

1:21:00committee. Uh I think our first our

1:21:02second meeting is Friday. Uh I think

1:21:04there's going to be a lot of discussion

1:21:06about that particular topic at those

1:21:08meetings and then we'll just move

1:21:09forward and work with the the council

1:21:12and the mayor's office uh to to make to

1:21:15do those things

1:21:16>> through the chair. Thank you for that,

1:21:18Mr. Barnes. I I'll support the

1:21:19legislation today. I think this is step

1:21:22one. I know Dr. Salem, a few others are

1:21:24going to be on this committee and it's

1:21:26really about, okay, this is essentially

1:21:28the band-aid in my mind and then there's

1:21:31more things to fix in the future. Uh,

1:21:33thank you, Mr. Barnes, as always for

1:21:34this information.

1:21:36>> All right. Thank you. Let's go to Dr.

1:21:38Salem.

1:21:41>> Thank you, Chair Councilman Lane, you

1:21:44know, hitting hitting home runs as he

1:21:46usually does. I have a few questions

1:21:48because I was here in 2021

1:21:51uh when this was passed and my

1:21:54recollection and I looked at my notes

1:21:56over the weekend is that we had buckets

1:21:58of money for uh transportation projects,

1:22:03Na'vi related projects and uh the

1:22:07Emerald Trail. Is that correct?

1:22:10>> That's correct. There are definitely

1:22:11project through the chair to council

1:22:13member Salem. There are definitely

1:22:14projects with expenditures attached to

1:22:16legislation. Uh it's it's a listing of

1:22:19projects with expenditures,

1:22:20>> but but those dollars, and this gets to

1:22:23the core of my question, those dollars

1:22:25were assigned for each each one of those

1:22:29three things. Correct.

1:22:33>> I I'll defer to uh Jessica. Looks like

1:22:36I'm not sure that they're necessarily

1:22:38assigned, but they the these are these

1:22:40are estimates of those projects. So, I I

1:22:44guess my question is, and obviously

1:22:46we'll start getting into this on Friday,

1:22:48but it it sounds like money was moved

1:22:53around between those priorities. Is that

1:22:56a fair statement

1:23:00through the chair to council member

1:23:01Salem? I'm not sure that's a great

1:23:03characterization of that. I think these

1:23:06projects are scheduled in coordination

1:23:09with the uh the park partners that we

1:23:13work with, the board and with the

1:23:16council in mind. And so the timing of

1:23:19these projects are scheduled out and

1:23:22there weren't dollars that were shifted

1:23:24from one to the other or vice versa. We

1:23:26just have a certain amount of money that

1:23:28is coming in over a long period of time

1:23:30to complete these projects.

1:23:31>> But Dr. So if you would now that we we

1:23:35did the presentation I need to go ahead

1:23:36and and get the bill moved and and then

1:23:39we can get into the discussions and I'll

1:23:41come right back to you.

1:23:42>> Okay.

1:23:44>> I've got a motion and a second on the

1:23:45bill on on the

1:23:47>> on the emergency.

1:23:49>> I'll get a motion.

1:23:52>> I need move the emergency.

1:23:55>> I've got a motion second on the

1:23:56emergency. Miss Carer,

1:23:59Mr. Peterson.

1:24:00>> Hey through the chair to the committee.

1:24:02The nature of the emergency is uh

1:24:03consideration of this ordinance over a

1:24:06regular legislative cycle would have

1:24:07consumed a material portion of the

1:24:09limited term of the authorization which

1:24:11JTA is seeking uh and would frustrate

1:24:13that purpose. In addition uh each cycle

1:24:15of delay um could save them additional

1:24:19um carrying costs as it relates to the

1:24:20interest payments.

1:24:22>> All right. Thank you. Any speakers on

1:24:24the emergency? None. All right. All in

1:24:27favor of the emergency say I.

1:24:28>> I. Any opposed? Likewise. None.

1:24:30Emergency carries. Can I get a motion

1:24:32second on the amendment?

1:24:34>> The amendment.

1:24:36>> I've got a motion second on the

1:24:37amendment. Mr. Carer or Mr. Peterson

1:24:40>> through the chair to the committee. Uh

1:24:42the amendment is uh very technical in

1:24:44nature. First filling in the blanks as

1:24:45it relates to the ordinance number um

1:24:47and dates as a applies to the agreement

1:24:50and then JTA's board action. uh I

1:24:52believe it was last week clarifying that

1:24:54JTA operational funds which is a term

1:24:57used in the U agreement and the bill uh

1:25:00that's not defined is referring to

1:25:02anything that's non LOGT2

1:25:04related and then also striking language

1:25:07regarding the expiration of the first

1:25:09amendment in the ordinance and the

1:25:11agreement there's a sunset date by which

1:25:12JTA has the authorization to move

1:25:15forward with the up to 30 million but

1:25:16the first amendment will remain in place

1:25:18past that sunset date so we just want to

1:25:20get that clarified

1:25:21>> all All right. Any speakers on the

1:25:23amendment,

1:25:25Miss Pitman or? Okay. No speakers only

1:25:29amendment.

1:25:31>> Okay. Go ahead, Miss Murray.

1:25:34>> Thank you, chair, for indulging me

1:25:36through the chair to Mr. Peterson. Um,

1:25:39is your office considering

1:25:42the fact that, and we said it almost

1:25:44every year since I've been on council

1:25:45that JTA would always come back and ask

1:25:47for some additional funding, always. So,

1:25:51with I'm looking at the bullet that says

1:25:53JTA shall report on the outstanding

1:25:55balance annually. Do we want to make

1:25:58that more often than annually?

1:26:03Through the chair to uh council member

1:26:05Clark Murray. Um so it assuming this

1:26:09passes and assuming they take down some

1:26:11portion of the up to $30 million um they

1:26:15have to repay that $30 million by

1:26:18September 30th of 2037. So essentially

1:26:2111 years.

1:26:22>> Yes.

1:26:23um they have to report to uh the city

1:26:27and multiple agencies within the city in

1:26:29the first year how much they are want to

1:26:32take down what they're going to pay for

1:26:34and then they also have to reflect that

1:26:36in the um I believe it's in the

1:26:37quarterly summary um document that they

1:26:40provide to council after that it's on an

1:26:44annual basis um how they are doing in

1:26:47paying that back so once that they have

1:26:49one year to take those dollars down

1:26:51through September 30th of 27 seven and

1:26:53then every year in March or by March

1:26:57every year thereafter they have to

1:26:58report how um they are paying back if

1:27:01they have paid back any of the amount

1:27:03that they have taken down. So on a

1:27:04quarterly basis I don't know that there

1:27:06was going to be much change from quarter

1:27:09to quarter. So, I think the annual is um

1:27:14adequate uh because I do expect their

1:27:16the big payback to happen at the end of

1:27:18the year when they know whether or not

1:27:20they're in a surplus or not from their

1:27:22normal operations.

1:27:23>> Right. Thank you for that. So to make

1:27:25sure that I'm understanding, it's not

1:27:26just this annual report, but they're all

1:27:28there also quarterly reports that they

1:27:31have to present in order to make sure

1:27:32that the money is being used and and

1:27:34give us updates in regards to what is

1:27:37happening with the funds

1:27:38>> through the shared council Clark Murray.

1:27:40The quarterly reports are during the

1:27:41first year in which they have the

1:27:43authorization to use these dollars.

1:27:45After September 30th of 27, so

1:27:48essentially a year from now, they no

1:27:49longer can draw down on these LOGT2

1:27:52funds. So that quarterly reporting is

1:27:55only in that first year and thereafter

1:27:57it turns to the annual reporting on how

1:27:59they are doing and paying it back.

1:28:01>> Okay.

1:28:01>> Thank you. Thank you chair.

1:28:03>> All right. Thank you Miss Pitman. I see

1:28:05you got in queue. Are you on the

1:28:06amendment?

1:28:09>> Okay. All right. So no other speakers on

1:28:11the amendment. All in favor of the

1:28:13amendment say I.

1:28:14>> I. Any opposed? Likewise? None. The

1:28:16amendment carries. Can get a motion

1:28:18second on the bill as an emergency as

1:28:20amended.

1:28:21>> As an emergency as amended. Second.

1:28:23>> I've got a motion and a second on the

1:28:25bill as emergency as amended. And let me

1:28:27go back to Dr. Salem.

1:28:29>> Thank you, Chair.

1:28:31And maybe we'll get into this starting

1:28:33on Friday, but I'm trying to understand

1:28:35when you've got multiple priorities and

1:28:38your dollars are dwindling, who's making

1:28:41decisions on which of those projects is

1:28:44going forward. The example I'll give you

1:28:47during the spring Duval Doge, we had the

1:28:50the CEO here a couple different times on

1:28:53Na'vi. We all saw the wrership and the

1:28:57dwindling wrership

1:28:59and we asked questions about it and it

1:29:02was uh but we had no idea of the

1:29:05financial situation. And this is what

1:29:07bothers me. And we were told uh um UF is

1:29:12going to come on board at this end and

1:29:15on the other end the stadium and the

1:29:17hotels were going to come on and Mosh

1:29:20was going to be there and you know at

1:29:22some point we were going to have all

1:29:24sorts of people traveling this thing but

1:29:26we had no idea of the financial

1:29:28situation that we were in or I think the

1:29:31council would have taken much much more

1:29:34significant action than we did. We

1:29:37believed what we were told

1:29:40and in hindsight it was a I think we we

1:29:44we made a good decision based on what we

1:29:47knew at the time. So that that's just

1:29:49frustrating very frustrating to me that

1:29:52we're sitting here today. But let me

1:29:54just ask a couple other questions. The

1:29:55loan, is there any provision that says

1:29:59that the loan a percentage of it has to

1:30:01be paid back each year? Could they pay

1:30:03$30 million in the 11th year uh back

1:30:08through the chair to Mr. Peterson?

1:30:11>> Through the chair to council member

1:30:12Salem. I do not recall and I'm skimming

1:30:14it right now that any portion has to any

1:30:17percentage has to be packed be paid back

1:30:19annually. It's just they have to pay

1:30:21back the entirety by that September 30th

1:30:23of 2037 date.

1:30:25>> Okay.

1:30:27So essentially they could wait several

1:30:31years if they wanted to before starting

1:30:33to pay that back and there's no interest

1:30:35on that loan. Correct

1:30:36>> through the chair. That's correct.

1:30:38>> Okay. I just want to make sure that's on

1:30:39the table and maybe done intentionally

1:30:42that way. Um reserve levels very

1:30:46quickly.

1:30:48I see your your uh operations are

1:30:51usually around 130 140 million under

1:30:55good times. what what was in your

1:30:57reserve account

1:30:59>> through the chair to council member

1:31:01Salem. So the board has set aside a

1:31:03transit operating reserve uh target of

1:31:0620% of operating revenues. So 20% of you

1:31:11know 140 is what we should have and yeah

1:31:16>> that's got to be built back obviously.

1:31:18>> Absolutely.

1:31:20>> Okay. Thank you chair.

1:31:22>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

1:31:23council member Amaro.

1:31:28Thank you, Mr. Chair, to Mr. Barnes. Uh,

1:31:32I I I have two questions and and

1:31:35somewhat of a commentary, if you will. I

1:31:38um I remember when I was in college, I

1:31:40took accounting one, two, and three and

1:31:42didn't get past managerial accounting.

1:31:44So, I'm not the budget guy. Well, what I

1:31:48find disappointing in your presentation

1:31:50this morning is that the this entity of

1:31:52this size had a budget guy that

1:31:56obviously were making wrong assumptions

1:31:59for an expert based, as you pointed out,

1:32:02on gross versus net, as uh Councilman

1:32:05Lane pointed out, no projections, things

1:32:08of that nature. And I know the horse is

1:32:10out the barn and and you look back and

1:32:13you probably ask, "How did we get here?"

1:32:15And my question uh is who is this guy

1:32:18and why is he not being held

1:32:20accountable? He's probably been fired.

1:32:22Uh here are my questions. Um

1:32:26u number one, I heard you said there's a

1:32:29fair increase in January. My question is

1:32:31how much is that going to be? Um and how

1:32:36is that going to help to close the gap?

1:32:39That's uh my first question. And the

1:32:41other question um was this uh 10 11

1:32:46decade long uh payback

1:32:49um is it realistic to to have that

1:32:53completed

1:32:54um or in 10 years when no one is here

1:32:57that there's going to be an ask for an

1:33:00extension. So

1:33:04>> I'm going to through the chair to

1:33:06council member Marorrow. I'm going to

1:33:08answer the first question related to the

1:33:10fairs or at least partially answer that.

1:33:11>> Yes, ma'am.

1:33:12>> Um so, uh earlier this year, we went out

1:33:15to the community.

1:33:16>> Name and address.

1:33:17>> I'm sorry.

1:33:17>> Name and address.

1:33:19>> Oh. Um Jessica Shepler, senior vice

1:33:21president of public affairs, uh the

1:33:22Jacksonville Transportation Authority,

1:33:25100 Lavilla Center Drive.

1:33:26>> Thank um thank you, Mr. Chairman. um

1:33:29through the chair to council member

1:33:31Amaro. Earlier this year, we went out to

1:33:33the community um and had eight um public

1:33:37meetings related to both service changes

1:33:39and proposed fair changes. Um we are

1:33:42looking at fair changes um based on um

1:33:47the fact that we have not had a fair

1:33:49change since 2019 and before that it was

1:33:522012. So that fair is going to go from a

1:33:54$1.75 right now to $2 um on our fixed

1:33:59bus route. And then we have um some of

1:34:02our other passes will change

1:34:03accordingly. Um but that just basic fair

1:34:07level will be 25 cents to $2

1:34:10>> through the chair. Is that going to be

1:34:12sufficient? Are you going to have to

1:34:13come back and ask for something else?

1:34:15The reason I'm asking is the reality is

1:34:18the the affordability piece where the

1:34:20cost of doing business has gone up. your

1:34:22buses. Uh the the cost of energy to

1:34:25operate the buses, even with the

1:34:27reduction in force, there's still an

1:34:30increase in costs. Looking back now is

1:34:3325 cents a a realistic number to get you

1:34:37to where you need to be.

1:34:40>> Um through the chair to council member

1:34:42Omaro, the the fair increase passenger

1:34:45fairs are a very small portion of our

1:34:47budget. It's less than 10%. So this

1:34:50isn't a the fair increase isn't going to

1:34:53make the difference. We the actions that

1:34:55we took uh this last month are the

1:34:58things that are going to make the

1:34:59difference. Uh I mentioned the fair

1:35:01increase earlier because because of the

1:35:04changing in changes in schedule uh we

1:35:08could result in lower passenger numbers

1:35:11ridership lower ridership. So the we

1:35:14didn't consider the the fair increase

1:35:16that we put in place in the creation of

1:35:18the fiscal year 27 budget and this could

1:35:21help offset some of that but um that we

1:35:25some of the lower ridership that we

1:35:26might see.

1:35:27>> Thank you Mr. Barnes through the chair.

1:35:28I I'm going to support it because uh

1:35:31using the firefighting analogy from uh

1:35:34Mr. White over there, if you see a

1:35:36building on fire, you don't pour water

1:35:37on it, then the building burns down. Um,

1:35:41we've got to do something to stop the

1:35:43hemorrhaging, if you will. And I believe

1:35:46that um,

1:35:49this this is one approach. Uh, my

1:35:52concern is the list of projects that

1:35:54this would be paying for.

1:35:56I guess those are going to be delayed

1:35:58and pushed back out.

1:36:00Uh, I don't know. I mean, that's but I

1:36:04I'm going to support it because I think

1:36:05it's the the responsible thing to do.

1:36:08Thank you.

1:36:09>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

1:36:10Council Member Clark Murray.

1:36:15>> Thank you, Chair. Good morning again,

1:36:17Mr. Barnes. Uh, I just have two one

1:36:20maybe two questions. So, you mentioned

1:36:22in the in the presentation, it was

1:36:24mentioned that you are deciding um which

1:36:27plan services to change. What metric are

1:36:31you using to to determine which service

1:36:34changes you're making?

1:36:36So basically, how are you going to

1:36:37determine which bus services or bus

1:36:39which bus routes you are going to stop

1:36:42combine? How are you determining that?

1:36:44For my district, I know that buses are

1:36:47essential. I I passed by 10 people at

1:36:50the bus stop on my way here.

1:36:53>> Go ahead.

1:36:54>> Through the chair uh to council member

1:36:56uh Clark Murray. Uh during the eight

1:37:00meetings that Miss Shepler articulated,

1:37:02we uh took a look at the routes that are

1:37:06um

1:37:08most productive and most needed. Routes

1:37:101 8 10 uh 14. Those are our heaviest uh

1:37:16written routes uh for example. And so we

1:37:19are looking at uh reducing the time

1:37:24frequency of the least productive routes

1:37:28to ensure that none of our most

1:37:31productive routes have time more than 30

1:37:34minutes. So we are ensuring that this um

1:37:39entire enterprise if it's $139 you know

1:37:42million dollars uh in terms of what it's

1:37:45going to cost that that's got to focus

1:37:47on the most productive routes for the

1:37:50customers who need us most. Uh and so

1:37:52you have that commitment from this team

1:37:55that is what we presented to our board.

1:37:57that is what we will uh be communicating

1:37:59from October 1 to November 1 so that

1:38:02everyone understands that those are the

1:38:04routes that we're focused on uh so that

1:38:06we can ensure that whatever sales taxes

1:38:08that are coming in whatever logt taxes

1:38:11that are coming in which are primary uh

1:38:13revenue sources are used for those fixed

1:38:16route services.

1:38:19>> Thank you for that. I'll leave it at

1:38:20that too. Thank you.

1:38:22>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

1:38:23Council Member Pitman.

1:38:29Mr. Mr. Cleveland, thank you so much um

1:38:31for seeing that because I was very

1:38:34concerned and for Miss Shepler as well.

1:38:37I had an opportunity to attend a couple

1:38:41of those community meetings and my

1:38:44concern is to make sure that we're

1:38:47getting the message out to the

1:38:50ridership.

1:38:52um that especially the buses and also

1:38:57you all had a program that would take um

1:39:00residents to the grocery stores and the

1:39:03inner city. Is that one of the programs

1:39:05that are being considered um a decrease

1:39:09in um for ridership or support

1:39:14>> uh through the uh chair to council

1:39:16member Pitman the uh doortore program is

1:39:19still active uh and so that that is not

1:39:22being cut.

1:39:23>> Okay. And in terms of marketing, I think

1:39:27I mentioned you mentioned about 25 cents

1:39:31um in terms of increase.

1:39:35>> Yes, ma'am. Uh through the chair to

1:39:37council member Pitman. So those uh

1:39:40conversations had were had through those

1:39:42eight public meetings that we've already

1:39:44had uh during the summer that that 25

1:39:47cent increase will not occur until

1:39:49January. So, we really wanted to make

1:39:51sure uh that we spent this entire uh you

1:39:54know Q1 making sure that everybody's

1:39:57aware of of what those cost increases

1:39:59are for for those fairs. But in addition

1:40:02uh in terms of the changes that we've

1:40:04made over the last uh three weeks from

1:40:06October 1 to November one is when we're

1:40:08going back out to the community uh to uh

1:40:11let them know what the service changes

1:40:13uh look like.

1:40:14>> Okay. I know a lot of people did not

1:40:18probably come to some of the meetings,

1:40:20probably more of the the riders than

1:40:22individuals just who are involved in the

1:40:25community. Will there be any type of um

1:40:28signage on the buses as people um get on

1:40:33the bus and utilize that? They will know

1:40:36that from a marketing standpoint and

1:40:40what their budget can um take in terms

1:40:44of the the increase

1:40:46>> uh through the chair to council member

1:40:48Pitman. Yes,

1:40:50>> you said yes.

1:40:51>> Yes.

1:40:51>> Okay. All right. Thank you.

1:40:54>> All right. Thank you. Have no other

1:40:56speakers in the queue. I just uh like to

1:41:00ask a few few questions myself. uh like

1:41:03with in the presentation in the uh

1:41:05finance committee. I mean it it's kind

1:41:07of was eye opening for me to finally get

1:41:10the some of the details and it's just uh

1:41:14uh when you mess with lines of credit

1:41:16and all that that's just u u life

1:41:20preservers that you're trying to throw

1:41:22out there to keep keep uh keep afloat

1:41:26here. Uh my concern is you you're 1339

1:41:32million on your your your

1:41:35budget, but

1:41:37what is with with the analysis y'all

1:41:41done? How will y'all pay this back

1:41:46>> to the chair? Uh yes, it's going to take

1:41:48some time for us to pay this back. We're

1:41:50going to have to uh we we've already put

1:41:52in place these actions that we took over

1:41:54the last month. I think that's going to

1:41:56give us some some leeway, but it's going

1:41:59to take some time for us to pay this

1:42:01back and build back our reserves,

1:42:03>> right? And just, you know, in in a

1:42:06scenario of of uh going to a bank to get

1:42:12a loan, a a the applicant would have to

1:42:17show some kind of uh ability to pay pay

1:42:21this back. and and it's we're not really

1:42:24seeing any of that. And so that that's

1:42:27where there's a real big uncomfortable

1:42:30uh level of moving forward with this.

1:42:34But, you know, we're poised with that.

1:42:36But then we're also poised with uh so

1:42:39many businesses depend on these bus

1:42:42services of getting the the people to

1:42:46the jobs that they need and and so many

1:42:49people depend on these buses and and

1:42:51that that's a a big concern to me when

1:42:54we start reducing the the routes and I

1:42:58understand the increase uh that that's

1:43:00that's

1:43:02explainable that's doable but just the

1:43:05um of what JTA has always done has

1:43:09always been successful and we we've

1:43:11moved away from that and now the

1:43:14solutions is is to start cutting the

1:43:16services that

1:43:19is what JTA is about and so that that's

1:43:22where I want to see us to get back to

1:43:24I'll support this u for now uh but u

1:43:28there's just a lot of uncomfortable

1:43:32uh

1:43:34X factors that are not not filled and

1:43:36that if he was going to a bank to try to

1:43:39get get this loan, uh any normal

1:43:43business would just be turned down. And

1:43:45so that that that's my my concerns on

1:43:48that. And just a 20% reserve um

1:43:53uh the

1:43:56uh reporting uh I don't know if you know

1:43:58y'all said something about quarterly

1:44:00reporting. I mean intern monthly intern

1:44:03financial statement some something to

1:44:05that we can get to our auditors and you

1:44:07know we we we we depend on our auditors

1:44:10to give us that comfort level of of

1:44:12what's going on. So I think there's we

1:44:15still got to navigate uh getting getting

1:44:18reporting and getting actual data that

1:44:23that that's uh

1:44:25going to be critical. So with that no

1:44:27other speakers are in the queue. Just

1:44:31open a ballot and record your vote.

1:44:39>> Seven yay zero nays.

1:44:41>> By your action, you've approved 2026

1:44:430780 as an emergency and amended. All

1:44:47right. Thank you all for being here. Uh

1:44:50next uh committee, we're going to go to

1:44:56uh item 14 on page 10.

1:45:01for Council Member White.

1:45:07>> On my way.

1:45:10Make sure I got that right. Item. Yeah.

1:45:13Item 14, 2026 0705.

1:45:18I've got a motion and a second on the

1:45:20bill.

1:45:23No speakers in the queue.

1:45:26Open the ballot and record your vote.

1:45:34Seven yays, zero nays.

1:45:36>> By your action, approved 2026 0705.

1:45:40And thank you, Council Member White, for

1:45:43enduring with us this morning.

1:45:48>> All right. Now, we get to go back to the

1:45:50beginning of our agenda.

1:45:56Item number one, 2024966

1:45:59is deferred at the request of council

1:46:02member Carico. Item number two, 2026

1:46:04[clears throat]

1:46:050192 is deferred at the request of

1:46:08council president Howland. Item number

1:46:10three, 2026203

1:46:13is deferred at the request of council

1:46:15president Howland. Item number four,

1:46:172026 0227 is deferred at the request of

1:46:21council member Diamond. Item number

1:46:23five, 2026 0320 is deferred at the

1:46:27request of Council Member White.

1:46:30And item number six, we've already taken

1:46:32action on. Item number seven, 2026 0662.

1:46:37Get a motion on the bill.

1:46:38>> Second.

1:46:39>> I've got a motion to second on the bill.

1:46:41No speakers in the queue. Open the

1:46:43ballot. Record your vote.

1:46:49>> Seven yay, zero nays. By your action,

1:46:51you approve 2026 0662.

1:46:54Item number 8, 2026 0672 is deferred at

1:46:59the request of council member Pitman.

1:47:02Item number nine, 202677

1:47:05is deferred at the request of council

1:47:08member Matt Carluchi.

1:47:10Item number 10, 2026 0687 is deferred at

1:47:14the request of administration. Item

1:47:16number 11, 2026 0698.

1:47:20Get a motion on amendment.

1:47:22>> Second.

1:47:22>> I got a motion to second on the

1:47:23amendment. Miss Carher

1:47:26>> through the chair to the committee. The

1:47:27amendment will update the fiscal year

1:47:29for the appropriation to 2627 and remove

1:47:32the carryover language that's not

1:47:33needed. Uh we'll remove the section

1:47:35118107 waiver and related affidavit.

1:47:38Since this is not a city grant, this is

1:47:40a contract for services. will correct a

1:47:42scrier's error within the bill and place

1:47:44a revised agreement on file to include

1:47:46the missing exhibits and update the

1:47:48payment and completion date to October.

1:47:52>> All righty. Thank you. No speakers on

1:47:55the amendment.

1:47:58>> All in favor of the amendment say I. I.

1:48:00Any opposed? Likewise none. The

1:48:02amendment carries. Get a motion second

1:48:03on the bill as amended.

1:48:04>> Move the bill as amended. Second.

1:48:06>> I got a motion second on the bill as

1:48:07amended. Miss Clark Murray, you're

1:48:09recognized.

1:48:10>> Thank you, Mr. Richardson.

1:48:15Hey, good morning to you as you come

1:48:17down. So, this is the this is for the

1:48:2119th annual report. Has there ever been

1:48:25any desire by the by your board to

1:48:30make it uh request legislation so that

1:48:32you're able to do this create the report

1:48:34without having to come before us

1:48:38>> through the

1:48:40through the chair? Um, good morning.

1:48:43James Richardson with the Environmental

1:48:44Protection Board. Um, the board has

1:48:50authorized, if you will, the funding of

1:48:53uh, the report since its inception.

1:48:56Uh, probably about five or six years

1:48:58ago, I was asked to uh, speak with the

1:49:02administration to see if they would

1:49:04consider funding uh, the report given

1:49:06the importance to the community. uh the

1:49:09administration at that time said no

1:49:13we've had conversations with uh the

1:49:16current administration

1:49:18um it is being considered for next

1:49:21budget depending on a lot of variables

1:49:25but I think we're in a favorable

1:49:28favorable position uh with the

1:49:31administration for uh the city if you

1:49:34will to uh take on uh the funding of the

1:49:38State of the River report.

1:49:40>> Okay. All right. Thank you for that, Mr.

1:49:41Richardson. Thank you, chair.

1:49:43>> All right. Thank you. Another speakers

1:49:46in the queue. I've got a motion and a

1:49:48second on the bill as amended. Open a

1:49:49ballot. Record your vote.

1:49:56>> Seven yays, zero ns.

1:49:58>> By your action approved 2026 0698.

1:50:01Next item number 12, 2026 0702. Get a

1:50:06motion on amendment.

1:50:07>> Second. I got a motion second on

1:50:08amendment. Miss Carher

1:50:10>> through the chair to the committee. The

1:50:12amendment will add a reference to the

1:50:14bill to the application that was

1:50:16submitted for this honorary street name

1:50:18designation uh that was included in the

1:50:20onfile agreement. We'll clarify the code

1:50:23waivers are needed because the honore

1:50:26for this designation is a group and not

1:50:28an individual and we'll correct some

1:50:30scrier's errors within the bill.

1:50:33>> All right, no speakers on the amendment.

1:50:35All in favor of the amendment say I. I.

1:50:37Any opposed? Likewise. None. The

1:50:39amendment carries. Get a motion to

1:50:40second on the bill as amended.

1:50:41>> Move the bill as amended.

1:50:43>> Second.

1:50:43>> We got a motion and second on the bill

1:50:45as amended. No speakers in the queue.

1:50:48Let's open a ballot. Record your vote.

1:50:55>> Seven. Yay. Zero naz.

1:50:57>> By your action approved. 2026 0702 as

1:51:00amended. Next item number 13. 2026704.

1:51:05Commotion on the bill. Move the bill.

1:51:06Second.

1:51:07>> I've got a motion and a second on the

1:51:09bill. No speakers in the queue. Let's

1:51:12open a ballot and record your vote.

1:51:19>> Seven yays, zero nays.

1:51:21>> By your action, you approve 2026 0704.

1:51:25Thank uh JA workers for being here today

1:51:27and uh appreciate all y'all do for the

1:51:29city.

1:51:32Next item 14, we've already taken

1:51:34action. Item number 15, 2026 0709. Get a

1:51:38motion on the bill.

1:51:39>> Second.

1:51:39>> I've got a motion and second on the

1:51:41bill. Councilman Lannon, you're

1:51:43recognized.

1:51:43>> Uh, thank you, chair, and through the

1:51:45chair to the committee. I've already

1:51:46co-sponsored this and really uh if you

1:51:49sat with us through the finance hearings

1:51:51this summer. That's the biggest reason

1:51:52I'm supporting this because there were

1:51:54just times that it was nearly impossible

1:51:56to have five instead of four members.

1:51:58And I'm sure it's going to inevitably

1:51:59come up in different meetings as well uh

1:52:02with other standing committees. So, uh,

1:52:05I think that when this bill came out, I

1:52:07paid attention to some other portions of

1:52:08it and not necessarily the four verse

1:52:11five part, but I hope council member

1:52:12Boland that you're okay with this as

1:52:14well, because I do think returning it to

1:52:16the four just gives us more flexibility

1:52:18while still having a majority of council

1:52:20members uh present at their assigned

1:52:22committee meetings.

1:52:24>> All right. Thank you, Council Member

1:52:25Bolan.

1:52:28>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you might well

1:52:29expect, I I I cannot support this bill

1:52:32today. And I appreciate it and almost

1:52:35amused by in the board and the and in

1:52:38the bill summary, it mentions

1:52:41justification as to improve committee

1:52:44meeting efficiency. We're not about

1:52:46efficiency. We're about comprehensive

1:52:48evaluation.

1:52:50And quite honestly, I think we

1:52:52accommodated your concern with the the

1:52:54prior bill when we uh modified it to say

1:52:58if there were only if there were two

1:52:59excuse absences at the committee level,

1:53:02four would be the quorum necessary. I

1:53:04think five is important. I heard time

1:53:06and time again from colleagues when

1:53:09people talking about walking away from v

1:53:12votes. We know where that happens. It

1:53:14doesn't happen in neighborhoods. It

1:53:15doesn't happen in rules. It doesn't

1:53:16happen in finance. It happens one place

1:53:19largely and we've got to take on and

1:53:23maintain the responsibilities we have to

1:53:25serve our constituents.

1:53:27Uh I wasn't going to tell the story, but

1:53:29I'm going to tell this story.

1:53:32Back when I ran for reelection

1:53:35four years ago, I made the unwise

1:53:37decision attending a debate or conver a

1:53:40panel of where I was the only incumbent

1:53:45uh on the panel. I probably shouldn't

1:53:47have been there because I heard time and

1:53:49time again about collusion and

1:53:50corruption

1:53:52about this you about the council.

1:53:55This kind of bill allows our colleagues

1:54:00to step away from difficult votes and

1:54:04that should not be the case. So I was

1:54:06comfortable with going to four when

1:54:08there were six with with two excuse

1:54:10absences. I'm not comfortable in going

1:54:12to four when there are seven members or

1:54:15even six members available to these

1:54:17meetings. So I I can't support this

1:54:19today and and I think it's it's a bad

1:54:21message to send out there saying you we

1:54:24are sacrificing our compreh

1:54:26comprehensive responsibility for the

1:54:27sake of efficiency of a meeting.

1:54:32>> Thank you. Let me go to Dr. Salem.

1:54:39I appreciate his comments. Uh thank you,

1:54:42chair.

1:54:43People are going to walk if they want to

1:54:45walk.

1:54:47I mean, it's just it just happens.

1:54:50Uh I've been on this council seven plus

1:54:52years, never walked out, never avoided a

1:54:56vote. One of those votes about got me

1:54:58killed

1:55:00where I needed police protection. I

1:55:02think most of you guys know what that

1:55:03vote was. So, um I don't know that

1:55:06you're ever going to stop that.

1:55:09So, um I'm going to support it. I think

1:55:13four is enough. Thank you.

1:55:16>> All right. Thank you.

1:55:19I I would just like to add that, you

1:55:21know, I seeing seeing what we went

1:55:24through in finance and having to and uh

1:55:28some other meetings having to wait for

1:55:32some to be here, circumstances arise and

1:55:37I think the the intent and the nature

1:55:40and the spirit of the uh the attendance

1:55:44of the committees is generally good And

1:55:48that's what uh we we're all here to

1:55:51behold to. And so uh this this lets the

1:55:55business of the city move forward while

1:55:58somebody's late or somebody uh had a a

1:56:02circumstance that they were uh unable to

1:56:05be here. And so that that that's why I

1:56:09went ahead and and moved this bill

1:56:12presented this bill. So with that, let's

1:56:14open the ballot and record your vote.

1:56:22Five yays, two nays.

1:56:24>> All right. By your action, you approve

1:56:262026 0709.

1:56:29Item number 16, 2026 0722.

1:56:33Get a motion on amendment.

1:56:35>> Second.

1:56:35>> I got a motion, a second on amendment,

1:56:37Miss Caraher.

1:56:40through the chair to the committee. The

1:56:42amendment will strike the change that

1:56:43was proposed to code section 23 802

1:56:46which is the qualifications for the

1:56:48environmental quality division chief. Uh

1:56:50the bill as filed struck the requirement

1:56:52for this division chief to have a

1:56:55bachelor's degree or higher. Um in

1:56:57working with employee services it was

1:56:59determined that that should remain in

1:57:00the code because uh this chief is also

1:57:03required to be a professional engineer

1:57:05which in turn requires the college

1:57:07degree. So that would need to remain in

1:57:09the code. We'll correct some scrier's

1:57:11errors within the bill. And lastly,

1:57:13attach a revised exhibit one, which is

1:57:15the ORC chart, to remove the

1:57:16Jacksonville Sports Foundation from the

1:57:18ORC chart since this is not a city board

1:57:20or commission.

1:57:22>> All right. No speakers on the amendment.

1:57:25All in favor of the amendment say I. I.

1:57:27Any opposed? Likewise, none. The

1:57:29amendment carries. Get a motion second

1:57:30on the bill as amended.

1:57:31>> I move the bill as amended.

1:57:33>> Second.

1:57:34>> I've got a motion and a second on the

1:57:35bill as amended. Council member Landon,

1:57:38you're recognized.

1:57:38>> Thank you, Chair. Through the chair to

1:57:40Mr. Dennis. Um I'll support this, but uh

1:57:43it's still a vacant position. Correct.

1:57:46>> Uh through the uh chair to Councilman

1:57:49Lee, I'm going to uh have uh Kayla Liry,

1:57:51the uh deputy CEO to come up and um

1:57:57and discuss that or Leah Hayes uh

1:57:59because again, this is moved from an

1:58:01office uh to a department. So, I think

1:58:03there there going to be some follow-up

1:58:04legislation, but they can speak to it.

1:58:06Thank you.

1:58:07Kelly Olyri mayor's office um through

1:58:09the chair to Councilman Lannon it um the

1:58:12current position that sits within the

1:58:14code is underfilled right now we are

1:58:16changing this position to a director and

1:58:18then we will appoint somebody at that

1:58:20particular time

1:58:22>> chair thank you

1:58:23>> all right thank you let me go to council

1:58:25member Bolan

1:58:27>> missary if you come back to the point

1:58:29for a second um in the bill in the

1:58:31summary specifically it states that it

1:58:33has no fiscal impact yet you're you're

1:58:35changing from from a manager position to

1:58:37a director position. So I assume the

1:58:39salary of a director is going to be

1:58:40different than the salary of a manager.

1:58:42Can you talk about the differentiation

1:58:44in the salary for this position from

1:58:46what?

1:58:46>> Yeah. Through the chair um to

1:58:48councilman. Um the current position has

1:58:52a pay range and so it's already budgeted

1:58:54at that amount. We will not be

1:58:56increasing the pay range in any way. So

1:58:58it won't have a budgetary impact.

1:58:59>> So the director position will be within

1:59:01that same pay range. Thank you.

1:59:04>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to Dr.

1:59:05Salem

1:59:09>> for Thank you, chair. For y'all that

1:59:11don't remember, the administration when

1:59:14I was president came to and wanted two

1:59:17new departments. We compromised with a

1:59:20department and an office at that time.

1:59:23This being the office and they are now

1:59:26coming forward to change the one we

1:59:28compromised on to a department head

1:59:32which is which is uh their right to do

1:59:35that. M my and and one of the uh so I

1:59:40but I did not understand your comment

1:59:42about the existing person and

1:59:46what's your plan to do for the

1:59:48appointment. Can you reexplain that for

1:59:50me?

1:59:50>> Uh Mr. Larry through the chair.

1:59:52>> Yeah. Through the chair to Councilman um

1:59:54Salem. You um currently it's the uh it's

1:59:58a manager position. We have it

2:00:00underfilled. we are changing it to a

2:00:02director and at that point once it's

2:00:04changed to a director we will come forth

2:00:06with a new appointment.

2:00:08>> The requirement for the director still

2:00:10is a college degree. Is that correct? Um

2:00:13we have language in this bill that um

2:00:15also includes in lie of and that is uh

2:00:18is actually um in line with Senate Bill

2:00:211310 which prohibits public employers

2:00:26from requiring degrees and allows you to

2:00:29add in experience in lie of degree.

2:00:33>> Okay. In this bill you have that

2:00:35language.

2:00:36>> Correct.

2:00:37>> Just for this particular department

2:00:39head.

2:00:39>> Correct.

2:00:40>> Not the rest of the department heads.

2:00:42Not the rest, but we would come back at

2:00:44a at a later time if deemed necessary.

2:00:46>> I'm sorry. Say that again.

2:00:48>> Through the chair to Councilman Salem.

2:00:49We would come back at a later time um to

2:00:52address that.

2:00:58>> I I'm I'm just not comfortable with uh

2:01:02the lack of a college degree. It may be

2:01:05just me, but I think our department

2:01:08heads ought to have a college degree.

2:01:11and um it's it's a minimum requirement.

2:01:16So um I'm going to vote against the

2:01:18bill. Thank you.

2:01:20>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

2:01:22council member Lannon.

2:01:23>> Thank you chair. Through the chair uh

2:01:25Dr. Salem gave me another question. If I

2:01:26followed right the experience in lie of

2:01:29is a uh a state statute, right?

2:01:31>> Correct.

2:01:32>> Okay. So through the chair to thank you

2:01:34Mr. Larry. So through the chair Dr.

2:01:35Salem I think we have to make it say

2:01:37that is my understanding the in lie of

2:01:39language that that is not something that

2:01:41we can legislate ourselves through the

2:01:44chair to Mr. earlier. Is that correct?

2:01:45>> Through the chair. That's my

2:01:46understanding.

2:01:50>> U

2:01:51through the chair. Uh Michelle, could

2:01:54you uh chime in on that question?

2:01:56>> Through the chair to council. Member

2:01:58Lane. I did not work on this legislation

2:02:01at all. If you give me two minutes, I

2:02:03can look it up and verify

2:02:05>> through the chair to Michelle. Thank

2:02:06you. And I think the question is we want

2:02:08clarification on do we have to have the

2:02:11new language that says in lie of on

2:02:13every director pretty much every job

2:02:15posting. It sounds like we may. And then

2:02:17my second question through chair to Mr.

2:02:19O Liry. I guess I'm stuck on the word

2:02:21underfilled. I've never heard that term

2:02:23before regarding a job. Uh if you could

2:02:26just elaborate what underfilled means.

2:02:29>> Okay. Leah Hayes, director of employee

2:02:31services. Uh, so when we have a

2:02:33position, you can actually it it could

2:02:36be um let's just say it's a solid waste

2:02:39truck driver, senior. I'm going to try

2:02:40to make this simple. Um, when we if we

2:02:44don't have someone that meets that

2:02:45requirement of a senior solid waste

2:02:48truck driver, we can underfill it with

2:02:50just a solid waste truck driver. So

2:02:52you're underfilling it at a lower level.

2:02:57So through the chair to Miss Hayes,

2:02:58someone is there doing the job just

2:03:01below the current job requirements of

2:03:03the job listing. Is that correct? Okay,

2:03:05that that's a new one to me, but thank

2:03:07you for uh clarifying that HR

2:03:10definition.

2:03:11>> Um and if I may, I would like just to

2:03:14point out we do have uh one other

2:03:17director that does have accept

2:03:20commensurate training and experience and

2:03:22that's the fire director.

2:03:28Okay, let me go to Dr. Salem.

2:03:34>> So many things coming up. First of all,

2:03:37in lie of define that for me.

2:03:41>> What does that mean?

2:03:42>> Through the chair,

2:03:45>> sorry, through the chair to councilman

2:03:46Salem. In lie of would be you would have

2:03:49the commensurate amount of experience in

2:03:51lie of a bachelor's degree.

2:03:53>> Okay. But what is that? One year is

2:03:55>> it would be defined within the job

2:03:57description.

2:03:58>> Define. Do we have a job description?

2:04:01>> Yes.

2:04:02>> What does it say through the chair? I'm

2:04:05sorry. Go ahead. All these are through

2:04:07the chair. Go ahead. Go ahead.

2:04:15It states within the um it states within

2:04:18the um legislation and at least 5 years

2:04:21of progressively responsible executive

2:04:24level experience.

2:04:28>> Okay.

2:04:33I I guess I'm I'm concerned about the

2:04:37fact that we're doing this for one and

2:04:39leaving the rest of them as they are. It

2:04:41would seem to me that if this Senate

2:04:43bill is there that we ought to have a

2:04:46debate on all of our department heads. I

2:04:50mean, I don't think we want a engineer.

2:04:54I mean, I don't think we want someone

2:04:55running public works that does not have

2:04:57an engineering degree or something like

2:04:59that. I mean, this is a broader bait

2:05:01than this bill in my opinion.

2:05:05M Michelle, have you found anything yet?

2:05:09I don't mean to to push you.

2:05:13Okay.

2:05:16>> If I if if I may.

2:05:18>> Yes. Go ahead.

2:05:19>> Can I address that um through the chair

2:05:20to Councilman Salem? um it specifically

2:05:23states that if you have to have a a

2:05:26certification such as a professional

2:05:28engineer then the the the degree would

2:05:30be required and so there's language that

2:05:33addresses those circumstances

2:05:35>> in the case of public works I see what

2:05:37you're referring to.

2:05:38>> Yes. And and same with um EQD um when

2:05:41you're looking at uh traffic engineering

2:05:43if there's a professional certification

2:05:46requirement that requires a degree that

2:05:48would have to happen. Um, let me go back

2:05:50to the fire situation.

2:05:54When we confirmed the fire chief, he did

2:05:57not have a college degree.

2:06:00>> I don't I don't know that that's the

2:06:02case. I think within the um code it says

2:06:05or commiserate experience

2:06:07>> within the code it says that

2:06:11>> for that particular position.

2:06:12>> Correct.

2:06:13>> And it's always said that. It sounds

2:06:15like that's nothing new.

2:06:16>> No.

2:06:18Okay,

2:06:21I think we all understand what the plan

2:06:24is here and I have no con no issue with

2:06:28the person, but I do have an issue that

2:06:32getting away from college degrees for

2:06:34department heads within the consolidated

2:06:37city of Jacksonville.

2:06:39And I I think we're doing something here

2:06:42for an individual

2:06:44that's not good for the government

2:06:46itself. And that bothers me that that

2:06:50we're not having that debate separately.

2:06:52We ought to have a debate separately

2:06:54about college degrees and department

2:06:56heads, which ones, etc., and not do this

2:07:00peace meal. That's that that's my

2:07:03feeling. um whether uh that meant I'm

2:07:07not necessarily suggesting this be

2:07:09deferred but that's that's one way of

2:07:12doing it but uh I I'm just uncomfortable

2:07:14with all of this.

2:07:17>> All right. Uh let me go ahead to Miss

2:07:19Sh.

2:07:23>> Thank you. Through the chair to the

2:07:25committee. So the the Senate bill that

2:07:28Miss Olier referenced amended section

2:07:3011219 of Florida statutes and it reads

2:07:34that the head of a public employer may

2:07:37elect to substitute verifiable related

2:07:40work experience in lie of post-secary

2:07:44education

2:07:46>> may

2:07:48not.

2:07:50>> All right. Thank you. Let let me go to

2:07:53council member Bolan.

2:07:57Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, Mr. Larry, it

2:08:00seemed councilman Salem alluded to and

2:08:02this is an open position, correct?

2:08:04Presently,

2:08:05>> or is there someone in the manager

2:08:06position we're looking to promote to a

2:08:08director position? And who is that

2:08:09person?

2:08:10>> Through the chair to Councilman Bolan.

2:08:12Currently, it's the manager of um the

2:08:14office of administrative services

2:08:16manager. Uh Al Ferraro is in that

2:08:19position. It's being underfilled

2:08:21through this legislation. and we'd like

2:08:22to make that position a director

2:08:24position and then we would appoint

2:08:25accordingly.

2:08:27>> Thank you.

2:08:31>> All right. The no

2:08:34other speakers in the queue. Um Mr.

2:08:37Larry, you you've kind of heard some of

2:08:39the uh concerns. Is there a a uh need to

2:08:46to move this uh right right away or

2:08:50would y'all be open to set sitting down

2:08:52and let's having a notice meeting to

2:08:55discuss [snorts] uh the

2:09:00questions and the concerns uh uh that

2:09:03that's that's been raised.

2:09:06>> So are you asking do we want to defer it

2:09:08until we can have some further

2:09:09conversations?

2:09:10>> Yes, ma'am. if if that's the will of the

2:09:12chair, um we'd be willing to defer it.

2:09:14It's not an emergency.

2:09:15>> And I I I think the the in the intent uh

2:09:20of what y'all are trying to do, I

2:09:22understand that and I understand um

2:09:27Coun Council Dr. Salem's concerns here.

2:09:30And I would like to be able to make sure

2:09:33we get some uh guard rails in place to

2:09:37have some more definitive uh uh

2:09:40direction on this to where it just just

2:09:44doesn't go u random different

2:09:48directions. Uh so I I it's not that I

2:09:52don't support this legislation. I just

2:09:54want to get more clarity on that. So,

2:09:56I'd be willing to have a a a notice

2:09:59meeting on that with Dr. Salem and the

2:10:02administration to where we could move on

2:10:05that. So, uh if y'all are fine with

2:10:07that, I would I'm going to defer it and

2:10:09let let's have that notice meeting and

2:10:11and get all this ironed out moving

2:10:14forward. I think Thank you.

2:10:18So item number 16, 2026 0722 is

2:10:24deferred.

2:10:29All right. Item number 17, we've already

2:10:31taken action. 18, we've taken action.

2:10:35And that takes us to item number 19,

2:10:392026 0727. Get a motion on the bill.

2:10:43>> I've got a motion second on the bill. No

2:10:46speakers in the queue. Open a ballot.

2:10:48Record your vote.

2:10:57>> Seven yays, zero nays.

2:10:58>> By your action, you approve 2026 0727.

2:11:03Next item number 20, 2026 0728. Can I

2:11:06get a motion on the bill?

2:11:08>> Second.

2:11:08>> I've got a motion and a second on the

2:11:10bill. Not Miss Clark. Murray's indic.

2:11:14You're recognized. Thank you. So, just a

2:11:16quick question. When it's a reappoint,

2:11:18the person does not need to appear. Is

2:11:20that the the case?

2:11:21>> Correct.

2:11:22>> All right. Thank you for that.

2:11:23>> All right. Thank you. No other speakers

2:11:25in the queue. Open a ballot and record

2:11:27your vote.

2:11:35>> Seven yays, zero nays.

2:11:36>> By your action approved. 2026 0728.

2:11:40Item number 21, we've taken

2:11:42[clears throat] action. 22 we've taken

2:11:44action. 23 we've taken action. 24 we've

2:11:48taken action. Item number 25 2026 0733

2:11:53is deferred.

2:11:55And that takes us to the next items that

2:11:57are on second reading. Uh 20 item 26

2:12:022026

2:12:040752

2:12:062026 0756

2:12:092026 0758

2:12:122026 0759

2:12:152026 0760 2026 0761

2:12:212026 0762

2:12:242026 0763

2:12:282026 6764.

2:12:31And then item number five, 2026766.

2:12:35I got a motion on the bill.

2:12:36>> I've got a motion and a second on the

2:12:38bill.

2:12:39No speakers in the queue. Open the

2:12:41ballot. Record your vote.

2:12:51>> Seven yays, zero nays.

2:12:52>> By your action, you approve. 2026 0766.

2:12:56Item number 36. 2026 0767.

2:13:00Get a motion on the bill.

2:13:01>> Move it. Second.

2:13:02>> I've got a motion and a second on the

2:13:03bill. Councilman Mar, you're recognized.

2:13:07>> Thank you, Mr.

2:13:08>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to be

2:13:10added.

2:13:13>> All right. Council member Bolan.

2:13:17>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to

2:13:18note for the record, I was not around

2:13:19when this the organization started as a

2:13:22member of the organization 50 years ago.

2:13:26>> Okay. We'll take your word for that.

2:13:30All right. No other speakers in the

2:13:32queue. Open a ballot and record your

2:13:33vote.

2:13:36>> Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Pitman.

2:13:39>> All right. And Miss

2:13:48>> There you go.

2:14:01Seven yay, zero nays.

2:14:03>> By your action approved 2026 0767

2:14:07takes us to item number 37 2026 0769.

2:14:13>> I've got a motion and second on the

2:14:15bill.

2:14:16No speaker then the queue open the

2:14:18ballot and record your vote.

2:14:25Seven yay, zero nays.

2:14:26>> By your action approved. 2026 0769.

2:14:30The next items are on second. 2026 0770

2:14:342026 0771

2:14:372026 0772

2:14:392026773

2:14:422026774

2:14:462026775

2:14:482026

2:14:50776 2026 0778

2:14:56and item number 46 2026 0779

2:15:01item 47 we've already taken action on

2:15:05and that takes us to the end of our

2:15:07agenda agenda and Miss Shell I believe

2:15:10you had a a briefing you wanted to give

2:15:13us

2:15:14>> yes I know it's at the very end of the

2:15:16meeting but if I could just have two

2:15:18minutes of your attention

2:15:20So, a couple rules meetings ago, Council

2:15:22President Howland asked me to look into

2:15:25strengthening protections to ensure that

2:15:27board members appointed by the city are

2:15:30not subject to any final financial

2:15:32obligation to serve on their board. You

2:15:35may recall that conversation came up

2:15:37with one of the um I believe cultural

2:15:38council appointments. So, I just wanted

2:15:40to present a couple options to you all.

2:15:42Um, we could amend do some code

2:15:45amendments to section 118. Um, 602 is

2:15:49the cultural council. Um, and 605 is the

2:15:53cultural service grant committee. So,

2:15:55those are are two places in the code

2:15:58where I could add language um to clarify

2:16:01that city appointees are not subject to

2:16:03any financial obligation. Could also

2:16:06amend chapter 50 which applies to all

2:16:09boards and commissions. Um to my

2:16:12knowledge and in speaking with council

2:16:14auditors and Kirby and Colleen, um there

2:16:17are no other boards like this that are

2:16:20like a hybrid 501c3 private um and city

2:16:25uh with some city appointments. So

2:16:28that's that's the only occasion I'm

2:16:30aware of of when this this kind of

2:16:32situation may come up. You may be aware

2:16:34of others and and if so, I'd like to

2:16:35hear about that. But those are some

2:16:37options if you as a committee are

2:16:38interested in that. um moving forward

2:16:42some kind of legislation. Um I'm happy

2:16:44to work on that if any of you

2:16:46individually want to do that is that's

2:16:47an option as well.

2:16:49>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

2:16:51Council Member Lannon.

2:16:52>> Thank you, Chair. And if you'll give me

2:16:54a couple minutes, uh I want to really

2:16:55speak to those on neighborhoods. Uh I

2:16:57have two bills in neighborhoods and uh I

2:16:59I just am not able to be there today,

2:17:01but they're both related to the budget.

2:17:03I think everyone's familiar with them.

2:17:04The first 2026 0700. This is the simple

2:17:07one. This is just putting money from the

2:17:09contingency account to the completion

2:17:11grants that are uh coming due this year.

2:17:14Uh the other one 2026701, this was the

2:17:16bill to fund $26 million for public

2:17:19safety items. Uh it contains cash and a

2:17:22designate contingency to pay for two of

2:17:24the three items. Where it needs an

2:17:26amendment is to complete the third item,

2:17:28which is for a uh distribution warehouse

2:17:31for JSO. JSO will be able uh they'll be

2:17:34here and able to answer any questions on

2:17:35it. Uh but there's two things going on

2:17:37that require an amendment. Uh one,

2:17:39despite me having the goal of being the

2:17:41first finance chair to not give up money

2:17:43on budget night, I failed. So we lost a

2:17:45little bit of money from that

2:17:47contingency account for that. And then

2:17:49second, uh it was essentially a

2:17:51placeholder dollar amount in the budget.

2:17:53JSO was actively working with this

2:17:55seller through the summer and they did

2:17:57get to a sale price and the sale price

2:18:00is more than what they originally put

2:18:02into the draft CIP plan. Uh so because

2:18:04of that, it will require an amendment.

2:18:06If no one wants to put forward the

2:18:08amendment in neighborhoods, I'm glad to

2:18:10do it in finance the next day. But since

2:18:11I can't be at neighborhoods today, just

2:18:13wanted to uh share that for the

2:18:15knowledge of my colleagues. To me, debt

2:18:18makes the most sense. And the reason for

2:18:19that is it is a CIP item. And if you

2:18:22recall when we went through the CIP

2:18:24plan, we did lower next year's borrowing

2:18:26cost uh versus what was originally

2:18:28proposed to us. Uh but I'll leave that

2:18:31for uh anyone on neighborhoods to decide

2:18:32if they want to go forward with that

2:18:34amendment. Uh Bill Clement from JSO has

2:18:36given uh Philip Peterson all the exact

2:18:38numbers. So if the desire of

2:18:40neighborhoods is to take up that

2:18:41amendment today like I said if y'all do

2:18:44great otherwise we will take it up in

2:18:46finance tomorrow. Thank you.

2:18:47>> All right. Thank you. Uh Michelle,

2:18:49you're back on the queue.

2:18:53>> Okay. Let me go to Council Member

2:18:55Bullan.

2:18:57>> Thank you Mr. Chair. I do appreciate

2:18:59Michelle's comments. Uh so to be clear

2:19:02through the chair to Michelle, the

2:19:04cultural council really is the only one

2:19:06that has an anticipated obligation, but

2:19:08it's not specific in the bill now and no

2:19:11expectation. I regularly ask members who

2:19:14are putting put being put forward for

2:19:16the cultural council to make certain

2:19:17they've had a conversation with Miss

2:19:19Donovan or or so they understand there

2:19:21is an expectation but not a requirement.

2:19:24And it it so from your research the

2:19:27cultural council is the only one that

2:19:28has that kind of quai commitment

2:19:33>> the chair to council member boy I

2:19:34wouldn't

2:19:35>> I don't know if I'd characterize it as a

2:19:38quasi commitment but just that type of

2:19:40board makeup where there's like a

2:19:42private 501c3 in in a city. And I so I

2:19:45don't know the legislation is warranted

2:19:47if if it's the only one that has it. Uh

2:19:49but I do want to make sure I know the

2:19:52importance of the cultural council and

2:19:54the board and you know time talent and

2:19:56treasures expected for any 501c3. So I I

2:20:00think it's appropriate make sure Miss

2:20:02Donovan is more than clear. However, it

2:20:04is an option that uh you know an

2:20:07employee may need to made aware of as an

2:20:11option not necessarily as a requirement.

2:20:13I think we've done that. Thank you.

2:20:15>> All right. Thank you. Let me go to

2:20:16council member Clark Murray.

2:20:20>> Chair through the chair to council

2:20:21member Lane. Okay. So 0701

2:20:25there is like the the special council

2:20:28reserve balance is like 18 million but

2:20:30then you've got the 26. So is were you

2:20:34explaining where the 5 million is going

2:20:365.1 million is coming from

2:20:39>> through the chair to council and Clark

2:20:41Murray. Uh so so that's the gap, right?

2:20:43Because we took money out of the

2:20:45contingency. That combined with at the

2:20:47same time the cost estimate has gone up

2:20:49on this item to actually acquire the

2:20:51land. Uh so I mean it could be a

2:20:53discussion item. Uh since I won't be at

2:20:55neighborhoods, uh I would have gone with

2:20:57just have it debt funded within the CIP

2:20:59because this was the I believe this was

2:21:02the only item that was also in the CIP.

2:21:05So instead of using the cash that we had

2:21:07since we have less of that plus the cost

2:21:09increase if I was making the amendment

2:21:11in finance that that's what it would be

2:21:13tomorrow to use debt. And again I feel

2:21:15okay about that because we did lower the

2:21:17fiscal year 2627

2:21:19uh debt borrowing versus what was

2:21:21originally proposed in the budget as

2:21:22well by some changes we made in the

2:21:24finance committee.

2:21:25>> Okay. And so then the the other thing

2:21:27through the chair that that stood out

2:21:29with me with this particular bill is

2:21:31that the purchase of the CO2 removal

2:21:32system for JFRD typically when Chief

2:21:35Powers came before it was like a

2:21:37separate bill. I don't call it being

2:21:38combined with others. So

2:21:40>> through through the chair to um Miss

2:21:42Clark Murray. So again that was all

2:21:44proposed in the budget. That $26 million

2:21:47was part of the budget. we took it out

2:21:49to uh fund separately and now just that

2:21:52funding uh again given the cost increase

2:21:54and the fact that what we had in the

2:21:56council consens uh going into budget

2:21:59night is reduced that's what's requiring

2:22:01us uh to decide what the funding source

2:22:03is uh to make it whole on what the

2:22:06updated cost of the warehouse is

2:22:10>> all right thank you thank you chair

2:22:12>> All right thank you let me go to Dr.

2:22:14Salem

2:22:164.9.

2:22:17>> Thank you, chair.

2:22:21>> Thank you, chair. Through the chair to

2:22:22council, I'm glad you brought this up 7

2:22:25to1 because I assumed you would be at

2:22:27the next committee meeting. I've had

2:22:28some discussions with with uh m Mr.

2:22:32Peterson about alternatives to

2:22:35borrowing.

2:22:36And one of the uh suggestions was using

2:22:40reserves because it's a purchase. It's a

2:22:43one-time purchase and it would keep us

2:22:46from borrowing the money and um I was

2:22:49going to propose that um at

2:22:52neighborhoods. I I just assumed you were

2:22:55going to be there as part of the

2:22:56discussion. Now that you're not going to

2:22:57be there, I want to just make you aware

2:22:59of that so that you you're not

2:23:01blindsided by that particular option.

2:23:04Um, I think using reserves for a

2:23:07one-time situation like this,

2:23:10particularly with the status of our

2:23:12reserves, would be better than borrowing

2:23:14the money. So,

2:23:17I just throw that out

2:23:18>> through the chair to Dr. Salem. Uh, I'm

2:23:20perfectly fine with that, too. The the

2:23:22reason I thought a debt first is one, we

2:23:24lowered the debt borrowing for next

2:23:26year, and two, is a CIP eligible item.

2:23:29Uh, but I agree with where we are with

2:23:31our reserves. If you recall, originally

2:23:33in finance uh budget hearings, I talked

2:23:35about, well, let's use the reserves for

2:23:36this. The council auditors said, "Well,

2:23:38let's not use the reserves before 9:3026

2:23:42because we do not want we basically

2:23:44wanted that account balance to be where

2:23:46we thought it would be. This would have

2:23:47taken it all out." But I'm fine with

2:23:49that. Anyways, the the one thing I want

2:23:51to make sure we do, uh JSO is going to

2:23:54have one pagers. If you're not familiar

2:23:55with the project, uh there are some

2:23:57savings associated with this as well

2:23:59because we are consolidating. It's

2:24:01either three or four separate

2:24:02facilities. I had no idea what was

2:24:05involved in evidence uh collection

2:24:06before they walked me through this. And

2:24:08so I do think it's a good idea, but like

2:24:11we've seen a lot of times uh what they

2:24:13thought it may cost at the beginning of

2:24:14the year when they submitted as a

2:24:16request turned out to be different than

2:24:18what the uh settled sales price for this

2:24:20piece of property will be. So I would

2:24:22greatly appreciate it and support uh

2:24:25that amendment if you put it in as the

2:24:26reserves because again it's uh we just

2:24:28got to get there one way or another. So

2:24:30either one's uh still roughly the same

2:24:33amount of dollars anyways.

2:24:37>> All right. Thank you. And our last one

2:24:40in the queue is Council Member Marorrow.

2:24:44>> I was going to speak to the show.

2:24:47>> All right. Mr. Council Marorrow is good.

2:24:50With that we are adjourned.