2026-10-08 - TEU

00:03Good morning. It's 9:00.

00:07>> I'd like to call the order to order

00:10today's meeting of the Transportation,

00:12Energy, and Utilities Committee.

00:16Uh we'll begin with introductions from

00:18the left.

00:21>> Morning. Bill Delaney in Mayor's office.

00:23>> Steven Libby, Council Research.

00:25>> Harlo Shell, Office of General Counsel.

00:28Edward Linsky, Council Auditor's Office.

00:30Philip Peterson, Council Auditor.

00:32>> Good morning, Monae Holder, at large

00:34group one.

00:35>> Good morning, Matt Carluchi at large

00:37group four. Kennar, city council,

00:39District 1.

00:40>> Good morning, Jimmy Paluso, District 7.

00:42>> Good morning, Raw Are

00:44>> Morning Nick Howland at large group

00:46three.

00:47>> Thank you, Mr. President, for visiting.

00:52On today's agenda, we have uh seven

00:55actionable items. Uh 2026 0644

01:002026 0662

01:0320 26 0702

01:082026

01:100704

01:122026 0709

01:152026

01:1707020

01:19and on the last page we have an

01:22emergency action on 2026 6780.

01:28Uh this morning our meeting will begin

01:30with a presentation from the aviation

01:32authority. Um is Miss Megan here?

01:38Good morning Megan. Please come down.

01:41A few days ago I was at the regional

01:44planning council and she gave a very

01:46impressive uh presentation as to what

01:49takes place behind the scenes at the

01:51airport in the event of an emergency.

01:53and I thought it would be uh

01:55informational as well as educational for

01:58the TEU committee to be able to see the

02:00presentation. May Megan, you have the

02:02floor. You have 15 minutes.

02:04>> Thank you, sir. Good morning, council

02:05members. My name is Megan Smallley. I am

02:08the emergency preparedness manager at

02:10the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and

02:12I have served in this role for the last

02:1315 years. I am responsible for the

02:16prevention of, response to, mitigation

02:19of, and recovery of natural and man-made

02:22disasters that could impact our four

02:24airport system here in Jacksonville. And

02:27one of the other events that I'm really

02:28proud to be a part of is the aviation

02:30disaster exercise hosted at our

02:33international airport, which is what I

02:35would like to introduce you all to

02:36today.

02:39So when you hear the words aviation

02:41disaster exercise, you probably picture

02:43an aircraft accident, firet trucks,

02:46ambulances, law enforcement, and a lot

02:48of people pretending to be injured. And

02:51yes, we do all of that. But the exercise

02:53we were prepare preparing for has become

02:55much bigger than that. Because when a

02:57catastrophic event occurs at an airport,

03:00the incident may begin at the airport,

03:02but its consequences do not stay there.

03:05Today I would like to talk to you about

03:06how our aviation disaster exercise has

03:09evolved from an airport exercise into

03:11something much more representative of

03:14what emergency management really looks

03:16like today. A community and re regional

03:19resilience exercise for Northeast

03:21Florida.

03:24There is of course a regulatory

03:25component to all of this. All commercial

03:28service airports are required to conduct

03:30full-scale exercises to demonstrate

03:32their ability to respond to aviation

03:35incidents. But we also exercise because

03:37we want to find the problems before we

03:39have a real disaster. Can our

03:41communication systems handle the volume?

03:44Can our responders coordinate across

03:46agencies? Can we move resources where

03:48they are needed? Can we manage

03:50information? And perhaps most

03:53importantly, can we sustain the response

03:55after the initial emergency is over?

03:58This exercise gives us an opportunity to

04:00answer those questions in a controlled

04:02environment.

04:05This is not something that suddenly

04:07became a communitywide event. It has

04:09evolved over time. Earlier exercises

04:11focused heavily on the immediate

04:13response to the aircraft accident, fire,

04:16rescue, EMS, law enforcement, and

04:18incident command. And as we progressed,

04:21the exercise became more complex. We

04:23began bringing in more agencies, more

04:25realistic role players, and an aircraft

04:28simulator given to us, donated um for

04:31the day by NASJAX.

04:33By 2023, we were deliberately moving

04:36beyond the initial response. We

04:38incorporated a family assistance center,

04:40airlines, humanitarian organizations,

04:43and other partners. We started asking a

04:45different question. what happens after

04:48the aircraft accident

04:51and that's where this exercise really

04:53begins to look like an airport less like

04:55an airport drill and more like a

04:57community disaster. This is what we are

04:59focusing on heavily this year. We have

05:02read the afteraction reports of recent

05:04aviation disasters across our country.

05:06We are taking lessons learned from other

05:08airports and incorporating them into

05:10ours. We want to be prepared for the

05:13unknown and make sure that our community

05:15partners are also prepared for the

05:17unique challenges an aviation disaster

05:20could bring to us here in Northeast

05:21Florida.

05:24This is probably the most important

05:25concept I would like to leave you all

05:27with. The airport is the point of

05:29impact, but the community becomes the

05:31response environment. Think about what

05:34happens during a ma major aviation

05:35disaster. We immediately have public

05:38safety and healthcare impacts. We have

05:40families who need information and

05:42assistance. We have transportation

05:44impacts. We have businesses and airlines

05:47trying to understand what is happening.

05:49We have elected officials and government

05:51organizations receiving information

05:53requests. We have media and public

05:55information challenges. And depending on

05:57the incident, we can have economic and

05:59regional impacts. So although the

06:02aircraft may be sitting on our airport

06:04property, the emergency management

06:05problem quickly becomes much larger than

06:08the airport itself.

06:12One of the biggest changes in our

06:13approach has been recognizing that the

06:14disaster does not end when the fire is

06:16out. The initial response is incredibly

06:19important, but it's only the beginning.

06:22What happens to the victims and their

06:23families? How do we communicate accurate

06:26information? How do we manage resources?

06:29How do we transition from response to

06:31recovery? How do we restore airport

06:34operations? How do we support the

06:36organizations and people affected by the

06:38incident? Those are emergency management

06:41problems and those are problems that do

06:43not belong to just one agency.

06:48Ultimately, we are not trying to prove

06:49that we have a perfect emergency plan

06:52because we do not. No emergency plan

06:54survives contact with reality completely

06:57intact. What we are really testing is

07:00where our plan breaks down. Can

07:02information move quickly enough? Can

07:04organizations coordinate when they are

07:06all dealing with competing priorities?

07:09Do we have enough people and resources?

07:11And can we transition from response into

07:14recovery without losing our momentum?

07:17These are the things that we can learn

07:18from an exercise that we simply cannot

07:20learn from just reading an exercise plan

07:23or an emergency plan.

07:27A major aviation incident here in

07:29Jacksonville can involve multiple

07:30jurisdictions and multiple systems

07:32almost immediately. And we cannot build

07:35those relationships after the disaster

07:36happens. We have to build them

07:38beforehand. That is one of the greatest

07:40benefits of an exercise like this. We

07:44are not just testing radios, plans, and

07:46equipment. We are building

07:48relationships. We are learning who does

07:50what and what does what. We are learning

07:53who needs what information and we are

07:56learning who we can call when something

07:57does not go according to that plan

08:00because during a real emergency, we do

08:02not want to be exchanging business cards

08:04for the first time at the scene of the

08:06incident.

08:09So when we talk about our 2026 aviation

08:11disaster exercise, I do not want people

08:13to think of it as simply an airport

08:15exercise. It is an opportunity to bring

08:18together the systems that make Northeast

08:20Florida work. It is an opportunity to

08:22identify vulnerabilities before a real

08:24event. It is an opportunity to

08:27strengthen relationships before we need

08:29them. And it is an opportunity to

08:31improve not only how we respond, but how

08:34we recover because aviation emergencies

08:37may begin at our airport. But resilience

08:39is a community responsibility.

08:43So before I conclude, I would like to

08:45extend a personal invitation to the

08:46members of city council to join us on

08:48October 21st for our full-scale aviation

08:51disaster exercise. This is an

08:53opportunity for you all to see firsthand

08:55the coordination, planning, and

08:56partnerships that go into preparing our

08:58region for an aviation disaster. We

09:00would be honored to have you attend and

09:02observe the exercise and see how our

09:05agencies and community partners work

09:06together here in Northeast Florida. We

09:09welcome your participation as observers

09:11and I would happy to coordinate the

09:12details of your visit. And with that, do

09:14you all have any questions?

09:17>> Thank you, Miss Smallley. Um, very nice

09:19presentation when you said being uh

09:22prepared for the unknown. It reminded me

09:25of the Latin expression um

09:27[clears throat and cough]

09:29am Victoria Kuram, which simply means uh

09:32preparation brings victory. Um, we have

09:36in the queue Mr. Paluso.

09:39>> Thank you, Chair. Thank you for the

09:40presentation. My question was, what time

09:42on the 21st?

09:43>> Of course. [laughter]

09:44Um, so the exercise actually kicks off

09:46at 10:00 a.m. and it runs until 3 p.m.

09:48If you're just interested in seeing the

09:50airfield portion of the exercise, which

09:52is going to be the crash and then it's

09:54going to be our first responders uh

09:56triaging and transporting our victims.

09:58That starts on the airfield at 10. Uh

10:00our family assistance center will be

10:02coordinated concurrently with that at 10

10:04a.m. over at the Double Tree Hotel on

10:06airport property. So that's where um our

10:08humanitarian organizations, American Red

10:10Cross, the Salvation Army and Tri-State

10:12Canines will be there exercising their

10:15family assistance response plans.

10:16>> Excellent. Thank you. And of course I

10:18want to see the crash. I mean, of course

10:19you do.

10:19>> That's what we're there for, you So, I

10:21will also say um we did not get the fire

10:23simulator from uh NAS Jacks this year,

10:26but we do have the helicopter prop from

10:28Naval Station Mayport joining us this

10:30year.

10:30>> As long as you light something on fire.

10:32>> We are lighting the helicopter on fire.

10:33>> All right. [laughter]

10:37>> Thank you again. Uh Mr. Aras

10:41here. Um I have a couple questions.

10:43Number one is how often do you do these

10:45kind of trainings? Are there different

10:46types of trainings throughout the year

10:47or is it the same training every year?

10:50>> Sure. So we are required by the Federal

10:52Aviation Administration to conduct this

10:55magnitude of an exercise every 36

10:57calendar months. So we have to exercise

10:59an aviation disaster. Um throughout the

11:01year we conduct smaller tabletop

11:03exercises and then um we have conducted

11:06two full-scale active asalent exercises

11:09um in previous years but this one is the

11:11requirement for the FAA um and so it has

11:14to be to this scale.

11:16>> Got it. So this is once every three

11:17years on average. Okay cool. And then

11:19the last question through the chair

11:21would be what other uh government

11:22agencies normally when there there's a a

11:24big crash to happen. I I know you

11:27mentioned Red Cross, Salvation Army, but

11:28like are there any government agencies

11:30that also get involved and are they

11:31going to be here at this simulation as

11:32well too

11:35>> aside from JFRD? I'm talking about like

11:37outside of Jacksonville.

11:38>> Yeah,

11:38>> sure. Um so we've in the past we've had

11:41we have extended the invitation to

11:42Nassau County Fire Rescue, Nassau County

11:44Sheriff's Office. Uh we also have St.

11:46Johns County uh sheriff's office has

11:48participated, Klay County, we also have

11:50participants coming all the way from

11:51Flaggler County to observe the exercise.

11:54But as far as the first responder

11:55agencies, we tr really try to focus on

11:57Jacksonville because recognizing they

11:59would be the first ones.

12:00>> My I guess my question is um

12:02>> well I know that there's going to be

12:03firefighters, right? But if there was

12:05ever a crash to happen, god forbid

12:07anywhere, are there any other government

12:09agencies like in the state or federal

12:12that have to also be involved in these

12:14kind of scenarios in real life? And are

12:15they going to be here for this training

12:16as well too?

12:17>> Absolutely. So on the federal side, we

12:19have the FBI, we have ATF. We've

12:21extended invitations to them. I believe

12:22the FBI is attending. I don't believe

12:24that ATF is. We also have Customs and

12:27Border Protection attending this year

12:28because our scenario does involve an

12:30international diverted aircraft. So they

12:32would be heavily involved. Uh we also

12:34are partnering with the Florida Air

12:35National Guard because the other

12:36aircraft that is crashing is their

12:39aircraft. So we're testing that. And

12:41then um as far as a real incident um but

12:43they will not be in attendance is the

12:45NTSB, the National Transportation Safety

12:47Board. So those are going to be our

12:49primary federal agencies that would

12:50partner with us if this was a real world

12:52event here.

12:52>> Perfect. Well, thank you.

12:53>> Absolutely.

12:55>> Again, thank you for uh your

12:57presentation this morning. Uh my my my

13:00prayers are that we never have to

13:01experience it, but it's comforting to

13:03know that you guys are uh diligently

13:05working to be ready in the event. So,

13:08thank you. Thank you all.

13:11>> All right, committee turning to the

13:13agenda. Uh turn to page 8, item uh 2026

13:170780.

13:21Uh but before we take up the bill, we

13:23have a presentation from the

13:25Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

13:28Thank you. Uh good morning, Mr.

13:29Chairman, uh members of the committee,

13:31Mr. Council President, Cleveland

13:33Ferguson, JTA.

13:35uh just the presentation that uh you all

13:37just heard uh with respect to uh not

13:41having the disaster occur and that being

13:44the first time that we're interacting

13:46with each other. I'm thankful that we

13:48have had a partnership over all of these

13:50years uh in working together to uh go

13:53from our board uh approving the language

13:56uh that is the substance of this

13:58proposed legislation to the council

14:00president agreeing to adding it as a an

14:04emergency uh and working with the mayor

14:06and administration on drafting the

14:08language all shows the the partnership

14:10that the JTA is in need of uh in this

14:13particular uh circumstance. Uh we're

14:17asking for uh the ability to utilize

14:19funds that we've collected since 2021 uh

14:22from the LOGT uh 2 uh funds uh to help

14:27us uh start FY27 in a much more

14:30expedient way uh in being able to meet

14:33our uh financial obligations.

14:36this team has taken uh that is this JTA

14:39leadership team has taken extraordinary

14:42action uh to uh put this organization uh

14:46where we believe it needs to be to be

14:48able uh to focus and function on our

14:50core services. Uh and I'm going to bring

14:53up our CFO Randall Barnes to take you

14:56through uh that process.

15:04Uh good morning. Uh Randall Barnes,

15:06chief financial officer for JTA. I just

15:09want to quickly say thank you to the

15:11committee and the council uh for for

15:14listening to us today about this

15:16legislation and considering it and

15:18[clears throat] also uh for working as

15:21partners throughout this process. Uh,

15:23I'm going to go over the fiscal year 26

15:26budget creation process and and go over

15:29the results throughout the year of

15:31fiscal year 26 as well as talk about the

15:33fiscal year 27 budget. Um, and then

15:37provide some context about about what

15:39happened during that time and then a

15:40quick discussion about this particular

15:42bill.

15:44So, the JTA the JTA

15:47uh board approved its fiscal year 26

15:50budget in May of 2025.

15:53Fiscal year 2025 results show sales tax

15:56revenues 8.3 million under budget

15:59continuing a trend from the prior year

16:01with a total shortfall of 19 million. So

16:05even with a smaller budget, fiscal year

16:07first quarter of fiscal year 26 showed a

16:09continued softening of sales tax

16:11revenues and we also had cost pressures

16:14that continued. For instance, connection

16:16plus costs were not budgeted due to

16:19expected service cuts and costs for

16:22Nav'i and Skyway were higher than we

16:24expected.

16:25So because of that, JTA staff

16:28recommended amending the fiscal year 26

16:30budget to address the projected revenue

16:33shortfall.

16:35This this slide shows you a an overview

16:39of the fiscal year 26 budget amendment

16:41that the that the board approved in

16:43February of 2026.

16:46The uh main drivers for lower

16:48expectations were due to sales tax

16:50receipts uh interest earnings and

16:53passenger fairs totaling about $14.2

16:56million. So in order to balance that

17:00there were operating expense cuts

17:01focused on staffing and services uh in

17:04the same amount and those came in the

17:06form of reductions in force planned

17:09employee furlows and professional

17:11service contract reductions.

17:14Even though the budget amendment

17:16addressed the expected revenue

17:17shortfall, the plan to cut expenses was

17:20really not sufficient to address the

17:22full cost to provide services. And so

17:25that resulted in um a yearful really of

17:29of of deficits.

17:33This slide uh gives an overview of the

17:36reporting that took place throughout

17:37fiscal year 26. So we make quarterly

17:41reports to the to the uh the city

17:44council through the council auditor's

17:45office and then we make monthly reports

17:48to the JTA board.

17:51I've shown the quarterly information

17:53here and as you can see in Q1 and Q2

17:55reports to the city of Jacksonville, JTA

17:58reported year-to- date deficits, but

18:00staff projected to end the year flat in

18:02both of those quarters. Um, it can be

18:05challenging to to do projections at the

18:08end of Q1 because there's still so much

18:11left in the year, but Q2 projections

18:14really should have been more informed um

18:16because we already had a uh 156 million

18:20deficit at that point.

18:23Um

18:25the JTA board reports throughout the

18:27year substantially mirrored the reports

18:28to the city, but the council auditors

18:31did take note and and inform us of a of

18:35a reporting error that that had been

18:37occurring

18:39related to the LOGT1 revenues. We had

18:42actually budgeted a net amount that that

18:45was net of debt service but were were

18:48reporting actuals throughout the year

18:50without any uh taking into account the

18:53debt service that needed to be paid. So

18:56in essence the the issue was worse than

18:58than it actually seemed as we went

19:00throughout the year. That was corrected

19:03in in the June report to the council

19:05auditors in the the Q3 report. uh we we

19:09didn't that that occurred after the our

19:12June uh board report, but we correct

19:14corrected that in July and August uh

19:16board reports.

19:19Currently, we still expect to have about

19:20a $39 million deficit as of September

19:2430th. We're still uh closing out the

19:27books for for fiscal year 26. Um but we

19:30will need to make an amendment to the 26

19:33budget here for the council. So, that

19:35should be coming in the in the coming

19:36months.

19:38So just to summarize fiscal year 26

19:42um the budget was flawed. Uh we had

19:45optimistic revenue projections and the

19:49uh unsupported cost to provide ser the

19:51service levels that we were trying to

19:54provide. Um the budget amendment in

19:58February of 26

20:00largely fixed the projected revenue

20:02shortfall. Excuse me. Uh but the costs

20:05were insufficient.

20:07The cost reductions were insufficient.

20:10Um staff recommended

20:12uh and the JTA board approved route

20:15changes and fair modifications

20:18earlier this year and those are to be

20:19implemented in fiscal year 27. Um the

20:23fair modifications go in place on

20:25January 1st. There were various as you

20:28as you've seen various financial

20:30reporting issues. So there were errors

20:31and lack of rigor in variance analysis

20:34and fiscal year end projections. Uh

20:36that's not helpful at all for for

20:40leadership and the board and reporting

20:43and for for decisions to be made if you

20:46don't really have great reporting uh to

20:48understand what you need to do.

20:50The revenues were insufficient and led

20:53to a depletion of our reserve balances

20:55and a significant buildup in payables.

20:58[cough]

20:58The line of credit was authorized to

21:01provide liquidity support and that was

21:03used to cover pass due invoices and give

21:05JTA time to make necessary adjustments.

21:09And then amidst leadership changes, we

21:11took deliberate action in September to

21:14ensure costs were supported by available

21:16revenues and start the fiscal new fiscal

21:19year uh in a manner that was uh

21:22consistent with the healthy

21:24organization.

21:28The fiscical year 27 budget was approved

21:30earlier this year. Uh it was approved at

21:33139.2 million and then and then approved

21:36last month by the council. Um

21:40during the budget hearing process, the

21:42council auditor's office indicated that

21:44the revenue assumptions seemed

21:45reasonable but had a large number of

21:48comments about the expense assumptions.

21:51And so we we took that back and

21:54performed a comprehensive review of the

21:56existing cost commitments and confirmed

21:59that the ability to proceed without

22:00implementing significant cost reductions

22:03uh was was literally impossible.

22:07So the actions that we took over the

22:09last few weeks were designed

22:10specifically to ensure we were able to

22:12stay within the 139.2 million budget.

22:16And that includes some additional uh

22:20flexibility with regard to debt service

22:22of one and a half million on the line of

22:25credit as well as a small contingency to

22:28allow for unexpected cost or lower than

22:30expected revenues

22:32surplus. Any surplus that we might have

22:34in fiscal year 27 will be used to reduce

22:38the line of credit or to help uh rebuild

22:41our reserve levels.

22:44So what did we do? So we so we took a a

22:47really close uh review of our

22:50professional service contracts and made

22:53planned service changes that that added

22:55up to about 25 million. We are a much

22:58smaller organization or will be over the

23:00next uh month. Um we have reductions in

23:04force of approximately 200 employees

23:07through November 1st. We've already had

23:09seen the departure of 33 administrative

23:12colleagues and 26 operators.

23:15Skyway passenger service will end on

23:17November 1st and Nav'i will run through

23:19the end of December. We are pausing this

23:22service not abandoning and not

23:24abandoning the assets and our team will

23:26keep maintaining them. Uh we will be

23:30running a modified Saturday schedule

23:31beginning November 2nd and there are no

23:34impacts to paratransit service.

23:38So what are the risks for fiscal year

23:4027? Um, as with any budget, uh, we could

23:44have lower than expected revenues,

23:45though we think that our assumptions on

23:48the revenue side are conservative and we

23:50believe we're in good shape. Um, there

23:53could be a an impact to passenger fair

23:56revenue as a result of the service

23:58changes. Um, we think that that will be

24:01somewhat offset by the planned fair

24:04increase that that begins in January.

24:06Those weren't factored into the original

24:08the original budget.

24:11uh there could be higher than expected

24:12expenditures. Uh we we firmly believe

24:15that the actions that we've taken

24:17already are are sufficient to stay under

24:20the budget for fiscal year 27. In

24:23addition, we have implemented systematic

24:25budget controls beginning October 1st.

24:28That's to make sure we cannot spend

24:31outside of our budget. That wasn't

24:33something that we had u in the past.

24:37And then I've also imple implemented a

24:39or I'm in the process of implementing a

24:41business services unit that will report

24:44to me and control and coordinate all

24:46financial related activities within each

24:49division. So that includes contracting,

24:52payments, budget tracking, variance

24:54analysis and reporting all within the

24:56organization and rolling up to the the

24:59management team and the board. So

25:02management and JTA board will have

25:03accurate and timely financial

25:05information which is necessary to make

25:08sure that we can take swift action to

25:10mitigate the risk of missing the 27

25:12budget. In addition, this this bill here

25:152026

25:170780 provides additional headway to help

25:20mitigate either of those risks.

25:23So just a quick overview of the bill.

25:25What it what it does do is it allows JTA

25:28to borrow up to 30 million of the LGT2

25:31funds to pay down the line of credit or

25:34for other eligible expenses. The current

25:38balance of those funds is $47 million

25:42and those are currently restricted to

25:44only the LGT2 projects.

25:48JTA will pay back the balance of the

25:50amount borrowed without interest by

25:52September 30th, 2037. This helps us

25:55avoid about 3 million of interest

25:57expense over the next two years, or it

26:00could be even more if JTA needed to

26:02renew the line when it expires in two

26:05years for a longer period of time.

26:08This gives JTA more time to pay back the

26:10amount borrowed and provides more

26:12flexibility under the line to help

26:14manage cash flows should we need it

26:16throughout the year. What it doesn't do

26:19is it does not change or delay the

26:21existing projects and it does not

26:22inhibit the ability for us to discuss

26:26the LGT2 revenues or project plans in

26:29the future. So, this concludes my

26:32comments, my presentation. I'm happy to

26:34take any questions that you might have.

26:36>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Barnes. The queue is

26:40lit up, but uh just stand there for a

26:42minute. Uh before we entertain

26:44questions, uh I'd like to have the bill

26:46move as an emergency. The

26:48>> bill is emergency.

26:49>> All right. Thank you. Um I'll give the

26:53floor to our council president, Mr.

26:54Howland, since he is the introducer of

26:56the bill. Mr. Howland,

26:58>> thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that.

26:59And Randall, thanks for the great

27:00presentation. I've seen it a couple

27:02times now, and it's very informative. It

27:04says exactly what happened in FY26 and

27:07exactly what's going to happen in FY27.

27:10um you're addressing the the immediate

27:12stabilization needs. Uh and I like your

27:14get well plan. Um I like it as much as

27:16one can like a get well plan. I mean

27:18there's um up to 200 layoffs and my

27:21sympathies go to the families involved.

27:22Um but I like how it involves um a hard

27:25look at all aspects of transit that JTA

27:28runs as well as restructuring as well as

27:30financial implications. Um Cleveland

27:32said something in the beginning when he

27:33introduced um this presentation. and he

27:36said this was a joint effort between the

27:37administration council and JTA and it

27:39was uh the original proposal for bill

27:412026780

27:43was an emergency um in and out to be

27:46done on budget night. Um and we decided

27:48that that would be um kind of uh too

27:50dramatic to do on budget night. Plus, we

27:52wanted to give every standing committee

27:55the opportunity to review what happened

27:56before they voted on this very important

27:58bill. Um and that's what we've done.

28:00Also, the original bill had just um 30

28:03million of LOGT2 funds going down to

28:06help going to help JTAa pay down its

28:09line of credit. We instead changed that

28:11Mr. Weinstein's idea to the loan concept

28:14for the purpose of ensuring that this is

28:16not a taxpayer bailout. Um JTA is living

28:19within its means. They've got to pay

28:21back uh this amount. So, I'm comfortable

28:24with the bill where it is. Um I'm

28:26comfortable in um the new guidance of U.

28:29Mr. Barnes uh and Mr. Ferguson looking

28:32at how we're um getting JTA back on the

28:34right track and I'm most comfortable

28:36with the select committee starting to

28:37meet Friday to look at both short and

28:39long-term correction measures. Thanks.

28:41>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh Mr.

28:42Carluchi,

28:46>> chair [clears throat]

28:48um Rand LeBar, I heard you say, I think

28:51earlier that the sales taxes were less

28:54than expected.

28:56Um do we know what caused that?

29:01through the chair to council member

29:02Carluchi. It's it's a combination of

29:05just economic downturn as well as there

29:07have been a number of sales tax holidays

29:09and things like that that that reduce

29:11sales taxes.

29:12>> Okay. All right. Thank you very much.

29:17>> All right. I've got some other members

29:19in the queue. I also want to acknowledge

29:21uh Vice Chair Pitman is here with us and

29:23Council Member Gaffne. They got a little

29:25bit late. Um before we uh continue the

29:29conversation, I'd like to take a vote on

29:31the emergency. All in favor of the

29:33emergency say I.

29:35>> I.

29:35>> Any any opposition?

29:38Emergency carries. Can I get a motion on

29:40the amendment?

29:41>> The bill's an emergency.

29:46>> Can I get a motion on the amendment to

29:49the emergency bill?

29:53>> Okay. All

29:54>> in

29:56the

29:58second

29:59>> just move the amendment

30:01>> and it's been second.

30:04>> All in favor? Can I get an explanation

30:06of the amendment? Mr. Phillip Peter.

30:09>> Yes sir. Through the chair to the

30:10committee. The amendment will fill in uh

30:11various blanks in the ordinance and the

30:13agreement uh with the appropriate dates

30:15uh reflecting JTA's board approval, the

30:17ordinance number and and various other

30:19things uh that were not known when the

30:21bill was filed. clarifying that JT

30:23operational funds which is a term used

30:25will be referred to as nonoggt2 funds uh

30:28within the ordinance and the agreement

30:29and then lastly striking language

30:30regarding the expiration of the first

30:32amendment as the first amendment which

30:33is this document will continue uh

30:35through time even though there is a

30:37sunset date of when JTA can use these

30:39funds uh that will be reflected in the

30:41ordinance and the agreement as well.

30:44>> Thank you Mr. Peterson. Uh, can I get a

30:46motion on the bill? That's as

30:50I'm sorry, I'm moving quickly.

30:55Uh, all in favor of the amendment.

30:59>> Any opposition?

31:01Amendment carries. Now, can I get a

31:05motion on the bill as an emergency as

31:07amended?

31:10>> Hello.

31:14Second.

31:14>> All right. Now we're back to

31:16discussions. Mr. Paluso.

31:20>> Thank you, Chair, through the chair. Um,

31:21JTA, um, in your projections for

31:25ridership, what uh what has been the

31:27decrease from last year to your new

31:29projection? Because now that we now that

31:31we are decreasing the amount of rides,

31:34the amount of buses, how much lower has

31:36that gone and has that been taken into

31:38account?

31:42Let me defer to uh Mr. Ferguson. I'll

31:45I'll brief him on the question.

31:46>> Sure.

31:53>> I'm sorry. Uh council member through the

31:55chair. Can you repeat the question?

31:56>> Yeah, no problem. So, what uh obviously

31:59our our revenues we assume are going to

32:01go down. I imagine that's directly

32:02correlated with the lack of ridership.

32:04I'm wondering is we've now changed the

32:06ridership, right? or change the amount

32:08of bus fit bus rides that that are

32:10happening right now because of where we

32:12are. Has the number just plummeted and

32:15do we know where ridership projections

32:17are under the new fairs and uh uh routes

32:20that we have? uh through the chair uh to

32:22the council member. We are uh analyzing

32:25that uh very question. Uh now uh through

32:28our pilot that we had from January

32:31through uh the end of August, our our

32:33ridership actually increased. And so the

32:36[clears throat]

32:37um demographic in Jacksonville, we have

32:40about 87% of our ridership that we would

32:44call uh transit reliant on u JTA

32:48services. So it is an core essential

32:50service where um effectively many of our

32:54uh customers have no other choice. So we

32:57will provide uh that analysis to you as

33:00soon as it's completed. I'd very much

33:01like that. Um one of the questions that

33:03was brought up and this might actually

33:04be well it might be partially with the

33:07through the chair if you don't mind my

33:08apologies. It might be a part of the uh

33:10the audit committee. Uh the 30 million

33:12that you guys are what we're going to

33:14provide to you for the bill. It's it's a

33:16loan, you'd said, and and you're going

33:17to pay us back by a certain time. Is it

33:19possible to open up the LOGT so that the

33:21dollars for the $30 million can go

33:23straight to you guys for the purposes of

33:26of

33:27these activities so that you don't have

33:29to pay us back

33:31>> through the car.

33:32>> Basically, we wipe away a project or two

33:34and that way you're able to use these

33:35dollars for the purpose that we're

33:36using. Now,

33:37>> pardon, I didn't understand that that

33:39last part. we take away a project or two

33:42within the list that we've that we

33:43approved to the initial LOGT back in was

33:46it 2021? Maybe we get rid of one or two

33:48of those and make up the 30 million that

33:50way as opposed to you guys having to pay

33:52us back. Is that something that's an

33:54option?

33:55>> Uh through the through the chair to

33:56council member Paluso. I think there are

33:58various options that can be discussed u

34:00you know later on later on this year as

34:03we go through the FAO committee and and

34:05things like that. So there I think there

34:06are plenty of options that we can look

34:08at and that that would be one of them.

34:10>> Understood. Thank you.

34:12>> Uh Mr. Peterson's on the queue to give

34:14you some clarity. Mr. Paluso, I think

34:17you uh kind of went off the range there.

34:20>> So the chair to uh council member Palo.

34:22So this bill amends the interlocal

34:25agreement as it relates to the LOGT. So

34:27JTA this 30 million is already in their

34:31possession from collection of the past

34:34five plus years of LGT2

34:36funds. They are going to use that to

34:40address their financial issues and then

34:42as they have surpluses in future years

34:46they will replenish those LGT2 funds to

34:49continue that 450

34:52million plus list of projects that were

34:54approved as part of that 2021

34:55legislation.

34:58Thank you for the clarification, Mr.

35:00Peterson, Mr. Aras.

35:04>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and uh

35:06through the chair. All right. Um I have

35:08a few questions, and I'm not going to go

35:10too hard on it because I know that you

35:11guys are going to have a a more in-depth

35:13conversation later on this week. But I

35:15do have some concerns, obviously, as

35:16we're already looking at this. And my

35:18biggest concern, as council president

35:19just stated, I don't really care about

35:21the money. I don't care about anything

35:22else. I only care about the families

35:23affected by this. The 200 plus employees

35:25that are affected by it. So you

35:27mentioned Nav'i and Skyway are going to

35:28be um they're going to seize operations

35:30starting November and December um for

35:32both of those. Um out of the 200

35:34employees that you are laying off,

35:37furlow, whatever you want to call it. Um

35:39are these these operators are there also

35:42shuttle operators and logistical

35:43operators? Because if you're talking

35:45about um somehow generating more income,

35:49more revenue, yet we're lowering

35:52services, I don't understand how that

35:54even equates. Less services mean less

35:56revenue. So, how can we generate more if

35:59we're lowering our services? That's one.

36:01But then the second part, like I said,

36:02is I want to know like are these

36:04operators part of the Navian Skyway

36:05system?

36:07>> Uh through the chair to council member

36:09Aras. Um, so I guess one way to answer

36:13the question is fair revenues are a very

36:16small percentage of our of our overall

36:18revenues. We're primarily supported by

36:20taxes. Um, and so

36:24it it is true that a number of the folks

36:26impacted will be operators and

36:28maintenance techs. Uh, we are trying our

36:32best to minimize the impact to schedules

36:35with outside of Navi and Skyway. Um, and

36:39so we're trying to trying to work that

36:42the best that we can, but um, you know,

36:44changes to wrership is a minimal really

36:48a minimal impact to the revenues that we

36:51receive.

36:52>> That's interesting, sir. Uh, through the

36:53chair, but um, and like I said, I don't

36:55want to go too hard on this committee

36:57for this, but um, I want to know how

37:00much are we saving annually off of these

37:03200 employees?

37:05If they're primarily operators and

37:07maintenance techs, how much are we

37:08saving annually? Do you have that number

37:10by any chance?

37:13>> Uh through the through the chair to

37:15council member Aras. I don't have the

37:19number exactly. Uh right now I can

37:22provide it later. It's it's a

37:23significant amount though. It's 200

37:25employees. Um and so if as as we went

37:29through the discussion today, we were

37:31running significant deficits. um we

37:34weren't we weren't able to we didn't

37:36have enough revenues to cover the

37:39services that we were trying to provide.

37:40So it's clear that we were

37:44providing more services than we were

37:46capable of using given our revenue

37:48structure. So, um, when we have these

37:51in-depth conversation later on, um, one

37:53thing that I would like to see if you

37:54guys could prepare ahead of time would

37:56be the breakdown of how much are we, uh,

37:59spending annually for maintenance and

38:01operators versus executive level teams.

38:04>> Sure.

38:04>> Because I I I do know that you said 33

38:07plus admin were also laid off. Um, but I

38:10just want to make sure that if you guys

38:12are laying off, um, the prime majority

38:15will come from that higher branch versus

38:17the lower branch because the lower

38:19branch is really the ones that we need

38:20doing the services, putting the work in

38:22the community for the people that need

38:23these services. Um, so that's one. All

38:25right. Second thing that I want to talk

38:27about is going to be um, you talked

38:29about fair modifications um, but I

38:31didn't see any numbers up here. I want

38:33to know I don't want to know an exact

38:35number. I want to know a percentage. How

38:36much of an increase percentage-wise are

38:38you guys going up by? I I think the

38:40committee needs to know this and I

38:41haven't heard that yet.

38:43>> Um

38:45I I'll let Mr. Ferguson answer that one.

38:48>> Uh through the chair that uh council

38:50member Arius uh during the eight public

38:52meetings uh we articulated going from

38:55$1.75 to$2 uh to $2 uh in January. Uh

38:59and as it relates to uh the layoffs, uh

39:02you may recall [clears throat] we laid

39:03off 14 administrative employees in

39:06December, about 44 uh in February and 33

39:11uh in this goround. So that's uh close

39:14to 100 administrative uh employees and

39:16all told uh savings of about $21.9

39:20million that we're expecting uh to save

39:23from uh the reduction in force.

39:26>> Thank you, sir. So, um, through the

39:28chair, here's the thing. Uh, I hate that

39:31we're saving money at the expense of

39:33people. I hate that when we could have

39:36saved money on not investing into other

39:39things that we really probably didn't

39:41need at the time. That's where we're at

39:42right now. So, I would like to see

39:45scenarios where um we could actually

39:47bring back these employees um in your

39:50plan to to address the budget um

39:52deficits that we have because I don't

39:54think the solution would be moving

39:56forward is addressing the bus budget

39:58deficit by by still getting rid of

40:01employees. On the contrary, we need to

40:02bring back those employees and figure

40:04out a way to remove things that we

40:07really don't need right now at the time.

40:08That's my biggest thing and and I think

40:10all of everybody here could agree to

40:12that. Um, you know, Nav'i, how many

40:15vehicles and of Nav'i do you guys have

40:16right now currently on on stock?

40:20>> 14.

40:21>> 14. Okay. The point is that for we we

40:25are in this position because of 14

40:27vehicles and we're losing 200 plus jobs.

40:31I I can't fathom to even say that this

40:33makes sense at all. Um, but I will tell

40:36you this though. I think we need to use

40:37these vehicles for a greater use. If if

40:40we are going to discontinued services

40:42for the intended use, we could figure

40:44out a way to actually put these buses or

40:46these shuttles back in services. One of

40:48the things in my community, in my

40:49district, that I hear a lot of people,

40:51especially uh the seniors, talk about

40:52all the time is they need um uh suburban

40:55movers to take them to the mall or to,

40:58you know, have local things like this.

40:59And we've had this conversation in the

41:01past with the previous team, executive

41:03team, and I said, you know, we need some

41:05local shuttles, not just for downtown,

41:07but for different districts. So, if you

41:09have 14 navies, I would recommend giving

41:11each district a navi to use as a

41:13suburban mover. Let's figure out a way

41:15each council members so we could use put

41:17those in place because we've invested so

41:19much money into it. We're not going to

41:20get our ROI on it, but at the very

41:21least, let's put it back to work in our

41:23community. 14 navies, 14 districts.

41:25Let's talk about a solution for that for

41:26our community because I know I could use

41:28it for for a lot of neighborhoods in my

41:30district. And then um I have more

41:31questions, but the last question, the

41:33most important part is um 2037 is where

41:36we're going to be able to get the funds

41:37repaid back, which I'm glad we have a

41:39plan of action, but I think um you know,

41:42we're probably we're not going to be

41:43here by then. So, I would like to number

41:44one see um standing annual conversations

41:48on this to see where we're at, but also

41:49some sort of a commitment from you guys

41:52even if it means paying it back annually

41:54or every two years so we could start I

41:56don't want to wait till 2037 to talk

41:59about okay we're going to make the lump

42:00sum payment obviously I think you Mr.

42:02Weinstein the council president have

42:03already had this conversation but I'm

42:04not in tune with it but um I'm I'm

42:07scared that if we have that balloon

42:09payment at the end we may need to also

42:11have to have a conversations that say

42:12hey we may have to extend it. So instead

42:14of getting ourselves in that predicament

42:16in in 10 years from now let's start

42:18making those payments every every year

42:20even if it's a small payment so we can

42:21at least say okay by 2037 we have a $5

42:23million deficit a budget you know uh

42:26payment that you guys got to make and

42:27that's it. So that could be part of the

42:29ongoing conversations, but I think that

42:31we should not have this one-time payment

42:33at the end of the year, maybe every year

42:36moving forward, and then have the annual

42:37conversations. But my biggest takeaway

42:39today is um let's see how we can fix

42:42this issue by bringing these jobs back.

42:45We need to bring these jobs back. That

42:47cannot be a long-term or a permanent

42:48solution. All right. Thank you, Chair.

42:50>> Thank you, Mr. Aras. Before we go to Mr.

42:53Carluchi, I'd like Miss Mr. Peterson to

42:56address that aspect of uh the annual

42:59reporting

43:00or balloon lump lump payment. But what's

43:03stipulated here?

43:04>> Sure. Through the chair of the

43:05committee. Uh the amendment to the

43:08interlog agreement uh requires JTA to

43:11report on a quarterly basis uh in fiscal

43:14year 2627 on the amount that they draw

43:17down from that allowed 30 million. So

43:20that's uh on a quarterly basis um our

43:23office will receive a report, we'll

43:24report it back to city council what

43:26they've done. Uh they prior to actually

43:28drawing down any dollars, they have to

43:30send communications over to our office,

43:32the council president and the CFO uh and

43:35the administration on their plan for

43:37drawing down so that there's a timeline

43:39for uh discussion if it needs to occur.

43:42And then after September 30th of 27, uh,

43:46every March thereafter, they have to

43:48report to our office and we will report

43:51back to city council where they are in

43:53the status of replenishing the amount

43:55that they have drawn down. Um, and as

43:57council member Aras stated, they have

43:59until September 30 of um, 2037 to repay

44:03that full amount. There's nothing that

44:04requires them to uh, make an annual

44:07contribution to, you know, to try to

44:09draw that amount down. Uh but I having

44:12discussions with Mr. Barnes. They are

44:14try going to try to attack it

44:16aggressively uh because they know that

44:18the city wants the projects that the

44:20dollars are supposed to go toward to

44:21begin moving forward.

44:23>> Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Mr. Carluchi.

44:26>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. That goes right to

44:28the heart of what I was going to

44:29mention. So, they're required to do

44:31that. Is that by u has that been

44:34codified? they're required to do that or

44:37is that

44:40an inter local just an agreement? Is

44:43that something that we might want to

44:44codify that time frame in this bill? I

44:48just want to make sure it happens

44:49through the chair to council member

44:51Carluchi. So the uh what is codified is

44:54that they have to report annually where

44:56they are in paying the dollars back and

44:59that they have to pay it by back by

45:01September 30th, 2037. That's the only

45:04thing that is set in stone in this

45:06interlocal agreement amendment.

45:08>> Okay.

45:08>> So, if

45:10>> Mr. Chair, I I'd like I think it's

45:12important because as years go by, these

45:15these things tend to kind of be

45:17forgotten, out of sight, out of mind.

45:20Um, and and I' I'd like to entertain a

45:24motion or make a motion be entertained

45:27that there be a report at least uh twice

45:30a year between now and 2037 that there

45:34be a report by the auditors.

45:37U I see Mr. Weinstein. Let I'll finish

45:39and I'll just turn it over to Mr.

45:40Weinstein. Maybe he's already got the um

45:42the juice. But we should be reported to

45:45twice a year. I'd like to make an

45:47amendment to that report unless Mr.

45:49Weinstein's got a better idea.

45:51>> Thank you, Mr. Carluchi. Before we

45:52entertain the uh amendment,

45:56I'd like to hear what Mr. Weinstein has

45:58to say.

46:00>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mike Weinstein,

46:02um CEO. This amendment lives until the

46:06next amendment is done.

46:08Basically, when this is when when you

46:10when you finish with this amendment, the

46:13council committee, the administration,

46:14and JTA will be working on the second

46:17amendment, which will change the

46:20potentially change the distribution of

46:23the local option gas tax funds. And that

46:26second amendment, this one will go away.

46:29the second amendment will have all the

46:31details of the payback and the projects

46:35and all the things that we're beginning

46:36to talk about. Um so my suggestion would

46:40be um we get this one done we sit down

46:45uh the council committee that the

46:47president created administration JTA

46:49will come back in a number of months new

46:52amendment this amendment will dissolve

46:54basically and and then then you can

46:57discuss the real specifics that already

46:59will be in the next excuse me amendment

47:02coming to you.

47:04>> Thank you through uh to Miss Shell Mr.

47:07Carlo's amendment is for a more

47:09aggressive reporting timeline. It sounds

47:13proper to me. Correct me if you will.

47:18>> To the chair. I heard council member

47:20Carluchi

47:22discuss a potential amendment. It did

47:24not get a second. So, it's not properly

47:26before you. If he wants to um make that

47:30that amendment again and allow someone

47:32the opportunity to second, then it would

47:34be

47:34>> Mr. Carichi. Can you make the amendment

47:36with clarity and see if we get a second?

47:38>> Um,

47:41well, why don't we wait? I'll I'll

47:43withdraw the amendment, but I think that

47:47when they come back with another

47:49amendment, we need to remember, and this

47:53is why I made the amendment to begin

47:54with, we need to remember to have some

47:57type of reporting on the status of this

48:01what is kind of a bigger than-l life

48:03issue. uh at least once or twice uh a

48:07year to all of our committees or at

48:09least to the applicable committees. Uh

48:12this has been done uh before when

48:16situations like this come before u our

48:19city and in in the council uh to

48:22maintain uh a consciousness of it and to

48:26stay on top of issues um that that there

48:29be some type of mandatory

48:31um review. Uh we did it with better

48:34jacks uh years ago and it's been done

48:37with other things as well. Uh I'll uh

48:40stand back on my amendment for right now

48:42and wait till the other committees. I

48:44see Mr. Weinstein shaking his head. I

48:47trust his capable judgment. And Mike, if

48:50you'll just make sure that we remember

48:52to do that and um so that's where I'll

48:55stand on it right now, Mr. Chairman, if

48:56you're okay with that.

48:58>> Thank you, Mr. Carluchi. One quick

49:00question for Mr. Barnes before we vote.

49:03Um modified uh services on Saturday. I I

49:07believe that translate into reduced uh

49:10bus services. And my question is that's

49:13systemwide.

49:21Uh to the chair. Uh the most heavily uh

49:24written routes uh will go from 20

49:27minutes to 30 minutes. our bus rapid

49:29transit network which are our uh uh red,

49:33green, uh orange and blue lines would

49:36remain at 20 minutes. Uh and then the

49:39non-heavily written routes will go from

49:4230 minutes to 60 minutes to accommodate

49:45the additional frequency for the other

49:47routes.

49:48>> Thank you, Mr. Ferguson, for

49:49clarification. So, we're talking about

49:51an extension of time between buses. All

49:55righty. All right. The bill is back in

49:57uh committee. Uh I'm sorry, Mr. Aras. I

50:00see you in the queue.

50:01>> Thank you, chair. Um

50:05that that was also um an eye awakening

50:08for me. I have several employees. I have

50:10two employees. It takes them almost

50:12three hours to get to work. Three hours

50:14of their day to leave their house to go

50:17to beach and hodgees and then maybe two

50:20and a half hours on the way back.

50:22They're going to have four to five hours

50:23out of their day. Like this is real

50:25stuff we're dealing with here. All

50:27right. Like my eyes are like tearing up

50:29right now for these people because I

50:31know what they go through every single

50:33day and it sucks, right? You guys have

50:37to really buckle up and figure this out

50:39because it's not fair for them. All

50:40right. So, next time we have these

50:42conversation, let's figure out a

50:43solution for this because losing

50:46employees, that's $21 million of annual

50:49revenue in our city. but for people for

50:52their lives. All right, that's a big

50:54deal. And now we're talking about

50:56extending their time from 30 minutes to

50:5860 minutes, from 20 minutes to 30

50:59minutes. All that adds up. These are

51:02lives we're we're dealing with here. So

51:05you guys, everybody here has to really

51:06make a conscious effort to make this

51:07better because this is not good at all

51:09for our city. Right. Thank you.

51:12>> Thank you, Mr. Aras. Thank you, Mr.

51:14Barnes, for your presentation this

51:16morning. Uh, as I said yesterday, I'm

51:18uh, and I may not have used these words,

51:21but um, I'm disappointed by how we got

51:24here and apparently the uh, the lack of

51:27transparency through the process to why

51:30we are here and and as a result, as Mr.

51:34Aras has punctuated this morning, 200

51:37folks are out of jobs. uh when uh we're

51:41in a community in a cycle where the

51:43affordability has become a major concern

51:45for every household. Um but I do believe

51:49that um and I used the analogy yesterday

51:52when you see a house on fire, you you um

51:55you pour water on it. You don't let it

51:57burn. So, I do believe that this is a

52:00smart approach uh to try and and and

52:03stop the hemorrhaging, if you will, and

52:05and get you guys stabilized and get back

52:08to where you need to be. Uh Mr. Thank

52:10you, Mr. Barnes. Mr. Carluchi,

52:12>> I apologize, but I have one more

52:13question. Um and lingering kind of

52:16question is the autonomous innovation

52:19center, is that still going to be moving

52:21forward?

52:23And if so, if they're going to be hiring

52:24people, would there be hiring

52:26opportunities for any of the employees

52:29who have been let go? Through the chair,

52:31uh to council member Carluchi, the

52:33autonomous innovation center is the uh

52:36broken into two pieces. One, it runs uh

52:39the Bay Street Innovation Corridor and

52:41it also provides teley operations for

52:44any autonomous uh use in the United

52:47States. And so we're hoping that the

52:48autonomous innovation center uh will be

52:51uh looked at and utilized potentially by

52:53the state and maybe some private actors

52:55to do everything uh from teley

52:57operations on autonomous trucking which

52:59would bring uh revenue to the JTA. So

53:02all of those uh items are are being

53:06looked at for an opportunity to offset

53:08all of these with non-fairbox revenue.

53:11>> Okay. I I would hope that and this is um

53:16something that I think would make sense

53:18is any

53:19uh opportunities come up for jobs in in

53:24that center or any centers connected

53:27with that around the southeast or

53:31wherever for those employees who just

53:33would move in order to get uh employment

53:38that they would have uh first dibs if

53:43they're eligible and if they can

53:45qualify.

53:47But and I hope that the city uh of

53:51Jacksonville as they have opportunities

53:53come up that these folks will have an

53:56opportunity to have a a shot, maybe a

54:00first shot at those jobs. This is a bad

54:03time of year to lose your work, to lose

54:05your job. And um I I got to tell you, I

54:10will never forget in my life when uh my

54:14company filed to leave the state of

54:17Florida.

54:19Um they filed. They didn't just talk

54:21about it. They filed

54:23and um and our family was in

54:26free-for-all

54:28and we had to start another business

54:29from scratch. It was tough.

54:33first time I felt like I was falling off

54:36a cliff and didn't know where I was

54:38going to land.

54:40Um, and I was like in my 50s

54:45had kids that were just one was still in

54:48college, one had just graduated. That's

54:51the same thing these other folks are

54:54facing.

54:55And you got the holidays coming up and

54:58you're in sheer panic. You need to know

54:59what your fa what your future faces,

55:02what's facing you and your future. They

55:06need a they need a rope to to grab a

55:08hold of a limb. And so, uh, Mr. Ferg,

55:12Mr. Ferguson, I I have great faith in

55:14you, sir. And I hope that perhaps you

55:18can uh meet with different authorities

55:24uh this autonomous

55:26um organization and business that's here

55:29um and with uh the city and try to find

55:34where there might be some employment

55:36opportunities that these folks might

55:38have. [clears throat] Even if it's only

55:4150, that's 50 people that will be

55:47given a a a life uh a life rope, you

55:52know,

55:53>> and through the uh chair, council member

55:55Carluchi, I I I do want to say that the

55:57city of Jacksonville administration has

55:59been very helpful in coordinating with

56:01us uh to uh try to uh assist uh those

56:06who are no longer uh with us at JTA. And

56:09then I explained in another uh setting

56:12that our collective bargaining

56:13agreements do allow for us to uh look

56:16back two years uh and bring back uh

56:18employees of of those who are

56:20represented.

56:21>> Super employees

56:22>> and and knowing this administration for

56:25who they are and the heart that they

56:26have, that doesn't surprise me a bit and

56:28I'm really really happy to hear that.

56:30Thank you.

56:31>> Thank you. All right, committee. The uh

56:33thank you Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Barnes

56:36for your presentation this morning and

56:38answering the questions. Uh the bill is

56:40back in committee. It's been moved as an

56:42emergency amended. Uh if there's no

56:45further discussion, please open your

56:46ballot and vote.

56:57>> Eight yays, zero nays.

56:59>> By your action, you've approved uh 2026

57:030780.

57:05>> Mr. chair.

57:06>> Uh, turn to page five. We're

57:09>> I'm sorry, Mr. Howland. I didn't see

57:11you.

57:11>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one quick

57:13comment. Mr. Barnes, um mentioned at one

57:15point that the council auditors and

57:16Philip, I got a question for you. Um,

57:19had uh raised the issue about JTA's

57:22reporting of LOGT1 revenues that someone

57:24in council auditor's office. I just want

57:26to know who was the perceptive

57:28individual in council auditor's office

57:29who noted that brought it to everyone's

57:31attention and got basically started the

57:34process of re-evaluating the forecast

57:36for 26

57:37>> Brian Parks.

57:39>> Uh well Brian's not here but Brian if

57:41you're listening thank you so much for

57:43your service to the city. You did us a

57:45great service for catching that. Thank

57:46you.

57:52>> Mr. Palooi

57:54Mr.

57:56Palooi, you're out of order. You're out

57:57of order. [laughter]

57:59Uh, turn on your in your agenda to page

58:01five. We're taking up item five. Item

58:04five on page five.

58:06>> Uh, 2026 0709.

58:10Can I get a motion?

58:13>> Any discussion?

58:16>> Uh, open your ballot. Let's vote.

58:36six yays, one nay.

58:38>> By your action, you've approved 2026

58:410709.

58:43And let's go back to the front of our

58:46agenda.

58:50Item number one, 2026 0644. Can I get a

58:55motion on the amendment?

58:56>> The amendment.

58:58>> Can you explain the amendment

59:01>> through the chair of the committee? The

59:02amendment attaches to the planning and

59:04development uh historic preservation

59:06report which is required by code. Uh

59:08that report reflects unanimous approval

59:10by the commission.

59:12>> Thank you. Can uh all in favor of the

59:15amendment?

59:16>> I. Any oppose? Amendment carries. Mr.

59:20Carluchi, you're in the queue.

59:25>> Second.

59:28>> Okay.

59:29>> Bill has been amended. It's been moved.

59:31It's been second. Mr. Carlo, you in the

59:32queue.

59:33>> Okay. Thank you. Uh [clears throat]

59:35I just want to u speak to this bill.

59:40This is uh naming the uh one of the

59:43preserves of our Timocron preserve that

59:46the city owns. Thousands and thousands

59:48of acres that were coordinated uh

59:51recommended for purchase by Mark

59:53Middlebrook, one of the um great friends

59:57and people that I have had the

59:59opportunity to know in life. I'm sure

1:00:01that Mr. Chair, you knew him quite well

1:00:04as

1:00:05>> as well. Um,

1:00:11I don't know if I can get through it,

1:00:12but I'm going to try. Um,

1:00:16Mark Middlebrook was

1:00:19just the salt of the earth,

1:00:22but he was brilliant.

1:00:25Um

1:00:27and um and and I think a lot of people

1:00:31don't know these properties like

1:00:35um like past councils have. And I think

1:00:39we need to hopefully with the next

1:00:41council perhaps there can be some tours

1:00:44of these parks. Uh and they're

1:00:48responsible for a reason we have the

1:00:49largest park system in America.

1:00:52And they're not just sitting out there

1:00:53as vacant land. Um, and the point I I

1:00:56want to make here is that uh one of the

1:01:00last times I was with Mark, we were

1:01:02driving through uh many of the acres and

1:01:06they're building out

1:01:08uh with a real dedicated effort by our

1:01:12parks and recreation department

1:01:14uh for exploring, hiking, kayaking,

1:01:18fishing. There's some fishing peers out

1:01:20there people can picnic. There's um

1:01:24picnic tables and uh people love to go

1:01:27out there and watch and identify the

1:01:30birds, the wildlife.

1:01:32Um people can go horse riding out there.

1:01:35I'm hoping at some point they'll be

1:01:37camping.

1:01:39Um you can go out there and see the

1:01:41Kingsley Plantation,

1:01:43but uh it's it's uh some it's home to

1:01:47some of the most beautiful vistas in

1:01:49Jacksonville, Florida.

1:01:51Uh it it began under the actually began

1:01:55with Charlie Bennett, Congressman

1:01:57Charlie Bennett. uh he actually outlined

1:02:00and identified the Timacoin Preserve and

1:02:04then under the John Delaney

1:02:06administration when he was mayor

1:02:09uh Rick Melany and he and some others

1:02:12decided and I think I think John John

1:02:15gives credit to everybody else but

1:02:16himself and he gives a lot of the credit

1:02:18to Rick Melany uh for coming up with the

1:02:21idea of buying these pieces of property

1:02:24in order to preserve them uh for

1:02:26posterity for our children and our

1:02:28children's children's children. Uh but

1:02:31he he gives all of the credit for

1:02:33putting these together in such a

1:02:36systemic way to Mark Middlebrook.

1:02:39And um Mark Middlebrook passed away and

1:02:44uh and it became [clears throat] u

1:02:47obvious that part of this preserve

1:02:50should be named after him. I want to

1:02:51credit Mike Gay, Councilman Gay. I went

1:02:55out to his district and um and spoke to

1:03:00the uh the organization that

1:03:04neighborhood organization so this

1:03:06closest to the Middlebrook preserve

1:03:09and his son

1:03:16Mark uh Middlebrook I don't think he's a

1:03:19junior but his name is Mark Middlebrook

1:03:22uh spoke

1:03:24um to the organization

1:03:29and he had a son there.

1:03:33Uh it was a generational thing and it

1:03:36was beautiful.

1:03:38Uh and the organization came back at

1:03:43their next meeting and voted

1:03:44unanimously.

1:03:47And I really credit Mike Gay for giving

1:03:49me and and Mark Middlebrook's son that

1:03:52opportunity because I don't think Mike

1:03:54Gay really knew that much. But I do know

1:03:57this. Mike Gay fights

1:04:00uh for that area intensely on zonings

1:04:05and I have often joined him in fighting

1:04:08for those areas. And so I especially

1:04:10want to thank Mark. I won't have a

1:04:13chance

1:04:18to speak to this because I'll be out of

1:04:21town next week.

1:04:24But Mark was a friend of mine.

1:04:27He was a friend of hundreds, thousands

1:04:29of people. And I appreciate

1:04:33the fact that uh hopefully this will

1:04:35pass.

1:04:37I think if you add your name to this

1:04:39bill,

1:04:41uh, it's something you'll look back on

1:04:43and be proud of. And I know that his

1:04:46family would appreciate it.

1:04:50Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Carluchi, and

1:04:54thank you for introducing the bill. I I

1:04:55did know Mark and in your words he was

1:04:59indeed the salt of the earth and this is

1:05:02very humbling tribute to u his life and

1:05:05the work he did in this community and uh

1:05:08legislative services if you would add me

1:05:10to it I'd appreciate it. Uh the bill has

1:05:14been amended and it's been moved as

1:05:17amended. Uh open your ballots. Let's

1:05:19vote.

1:05:30Seven yays, zero nays.

1:05:33>> By your actions, you've approved 2026

1:05:360644.

1:05:37Item number two, 2026 0662. Can I get a

1:05:41motion?

1:05:44>> Any discussion?

1:05:46Open your ballot. Let's vote.

1:06:03Seven yays, zero nays.

1:06:05>> By your actions, you've approved 2026

1:06:080662.

1:06:09Item number three, 2026

1:06:120702.

1:06:17>> I need to open the public hearing. Do we

1:06:20have any?

1:06:22Okay, public hearing is closed. Move the

1:06:26amendment.

1:06:27>> Move the amendment.

1:06:28>> All in favor of the amendment.

1:06:30>> Oh, you want to explain?

1:06:34>> Ed

1:06:37uh through the chair of the committee.

1:06:38The amendment includes a reference in

1:06:40the legislation for the application

1:06:42which is currently on file. Uh that

1:06:44application was completed by council

1:06:45member Johnson.

1:06:47um also clarifies that the waiver is uh

1:06:50needed because the honore the sisters of

1:06:54St. Joseph of St. Augustine is an a

1:06:57group of individuals and not a single

1:06:59individual and that's why the waiver is

1:07:00required and then also correct scriers

1:07:03within the legislation.

1:07:05>> Thank you sir.

1:07:07Move the bill as amended.

1:07:12>> I thought we voted. We didn't. Okay. All

1:07:15in favor of the amendment.

1:07:17>> I.

1:07:18>> Any opposition? Amendment carries. Move

1:07:20the bill as amended.

1:07:21>> Move the bill as amended.

1:07:24>> Any discussion? Let's open the ballot.

1:07:26Vote.

1:07:40>> Seven yays. Zero nays. By your action,

1:07:43you've approved 2026 0702.

1:07:48Item number four, 2026 0704. Can I get a

1:07:52motion?

1:07:52>> The bill.

1:07:55>> Any discussion?

1:08:00>> All right. Open the ballot. Let's vote.

1:08:13Seven yays, zero nays. By your action,

1:08:17you've approved 2026 0704.

1:08:20We've already taken up item number five,

1:08:23item number six. 2026 0720. Can I get a

1:08:28motion? Move the bill.

1:08:33question on the bill.

1:08:37All right, open up your ballots. Let's

1:08:39vote.

1:08:49>> Seven yays, zero nays.

1:08:52>> By your action, you've approved 2026

1:08:540720.

1:08:58Item on second reading uh 2026 0748

1:09:022026 0755

1:09:06item uh 2026 0777

1:09:102026 0779

1:09:14and we've already taken action on item

1:09:1611.

1:09:17Um are there any public comment cards?

1:09:25Thank you.

1:09:28Uh, Mr. Cardinal Oliver, you have two

1:09:30minutes 30 seconds.

1:09:37Uh, yes. My name is Colonel Oliver.

1:09:39Address is on file 780. Um, I'm speaking

1:09:42to um the lack of knowledge,

1:09:46a nation will per will perish.

1:09:49The conversation of response,

1:09:51stabilization

1:09:56is very essential because it coordinates

1:09:58with the constitution.

1:10:00And the one thing that I'm be honestly

1:10:03uh speaking from is that I'm learning.

1:10:05And if I'm learning and I show you the

1:10:08right path you should be going down and

1:10:11you're not intentional about grasping

1:10:14the knowledge that I'm sharing, what I

1:10:16end up doing is I end up bashing you.

1:10:20because you're supposed to enforce the

1:10:22constitution and the rights of the

1:10:24people, especially my civil rights.

1:10:28And the thing about it is that there's

1:10:30been a lot of mistakes that have

1:10:32happened in this city and it's JHA is

1:10:37Jacksonville Transportation Authority is

1:10:39JA

1:10:44the very structure of consolidated

1:10:47government

1:10:48and a large number of the problems

1:10:50happened in the 60s.

1:10:53Things have gotten out of hand

1:10:56and one particular person is watching

1:10:58the glory days go up in flames.

1:11:01But things happen. We're in the phase of

1:11:04reconstruction.

1:11:06And by you understanding that and

1:11:09understanding the parable, it's common

1:11:11sense what the Bible says. The first

1:11:13shall be last

1:11:16and the last shall be first. It is time

1:11:19and it's been time for a very long time.

1:11:22We're going to have to rebuild this

1:11:23thing from the ground up. Everybody

1:11:26broke too much furniture. The level of

1:11:29accountability is increasing because I'm

1:11:32showing people the failures.

1:11:34So, you have no other choice. You took

1:11:37an oath of office to enforce the laws on

1:11:40the books. You're going against

1:11:42everybody's right and you're catering to

1:11:45people who should not have any power

1:11:49whatsoever.

1:11:50And when I say that, that's the 1866

1:11:54Civil Rights Act. [clears throat]

1:11:56You have to honor the laws that are on

1:11:59the books. That is the oath of office

1:12:04that each structure of government has a

1:12:07responsibility to do.

1:12:10>> Thank you, Mr. Oliver, for your

1:12:12comments. So, our next regular meeting

1:12:13will be Tuesday, October 20th at 9:00

1:12:16a.m. If there's no other business to

1:12:19come before the committee today, we

1:12:21stand to join.