Jacksonville meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Jacksonville budget cuts housing funds, council approves $21M capital

The Jacksonville Finance Committee approved a series of budget cuts on Aug. 13, including removing $4.9 million from the Affordable Housing Trust and $1.5 million from the Down Payment Assistance program, as part of the city's FY 2026-27 budget process. The committee also reduced Council Strategic Plan funding from $10,019,591 to $2.2 million (7-1) and placed $750,000 of Telehealth funding into a contingency (6-2).

Budget hearings

The Finance Committee's first budget hearing on Aug. 13 also removed $2.4 million from the Local Capital Stack for Attainable Housing (7-1) and placed $7.6 million into an Amendment 3 contingency pending the November property tax referendum. The committee approved all three Auditor's revenue recommendations unanimously.

On Aug. 14, the committee approved a $245,376 reduction to Mayor's Office salaries (6-2, Johnson and White opposed). It also approved adjustments to Library, Technology Solutions, Police and Fire Pension Fund, Finance Department, Driver Safety Trust Fund, and Military Affairs & Veterans budgets. The Driver Safety Trust Fund fee increase was $157,835. The committee tabled Wolfson Children's Hospital funding for a noticed meeting.

Budget hearings continued on Aug. 20 and 21 with no votes recorded; those sessions reviewed courts, tax collector, elections, solid waste, and city agencies, including JEA, JTA, and the Downtown Investment Authority.

City Council

The City Council on Aug. 11 approved a consent agenda and land-use items, including 12 rezonings and 2 comprehensive plan amendments. Notable approvals include a rezoning for a banquet hall at 101 1st St W & 0 Laura St (17-0), a multi-family housing development at 0 Village Ln (17-0), and a thrift store at 6411 Arlington Rd (17-0). The council also approved $21,019,214.38 for capital improvement projects (17-0) and $56,000,000 for indigent health care (17-0). Several items were continued, including a home occupation ordinance.

Committee actions

The Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee on Aug. 17 approved a $33,958,000 appropriation for unfunded future obligations (8-0), a $479,997 contract with Trinity Rescue Mission for a homeless day center (8-0), a $94,080 grant to Operation New Uniform (8-0), and the "Stand for Service Act" requiring REV grant recipients to hire veterans or military spouses for 10% of new jobs (8-0). It also approved a $1,976,527 appropriation for Northbank CRA cleanup (7-0) and demolition of the Sax Seafood building at 816 W. Union St (7-0).

The Rules Committee on the same day approved the same Trinity Rescue Mission contract (6-0), the Operation New Uniform grant (6-0), and the "Stand for Service Act" (6-0). It also approved Chaffee Rd eminent domain authorization (6-0) and a council rules change for excused absences (5-1). It deferred an abortion funding ban and a JEA board appointment confirmation.

The Land Use & Zoning Committee on Aug. 19 held a brief procedural meeting with no decisions. Later that day, it approved a rezoning at 0 Gate Pkwy (15.46 acres) to PUD with conditions, including a $60,000 landscape buffer payment and a deceleration lane (7-0). It also approved rezonings at 4427 Emerson St, 4730 Spring Glen Rd, and 7080 Wheat Rd.

The Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee on Aug. 19 approved an MOU with Atlantic Beach for disaster debris management at Girvin Landfill (6-0), the "Stand for Service Act" (6-0), and condemnation authority for the Chaffee Road widening project (6-0). It deferred an electric bicycle ordinance.

The Finance Committee on Aug. 19 approved the same $33,958,000 appropriation (6-0), the Trinity Rescue Mission contract (6-0), and the Operation New Uniform grant (6-0). It also approved the Northbank CRA cleanup and demolition of the Sax Seafood building.

Coming up

The City Council will meet on Aug. 25 to vote on a rezoning at 7080 Wheat Rd, a $94,080 grant to Operation New Uniform, and a code enforcement filing fee ordinance. The Jacksonville Waterways Commission meets Aug. 24 and Aug. 28 to hear a St. Johns River water quality and manatee report.

Jacksonville City Council approves rezonings and invasive species funding; Finance Committee greenlights $200,000 for Springfield Cleanup Corps

The Jacksonville City Council approved two rezoning requests and $72,300 for a parks invasive species removal initiative on July 28, while the Finance Committee advanced $200,000 for a Springfield neighborhood cleanup program earlier in the week.

City Council — July 28

The Council approved several items by 18-0 votes:

• Rezoning of 23.31± acres at Bird Rd & Kirk Rd for single-family housing.
• Rezoning of 10.51± acres at 4420 Hodges Blvd for church facility modernization.
• $72,300 for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's FY 26-27 Parks Invasive Species Removal Initiative.
• Confirmation of Michelle Begley as Chief of the Accounting Division.
• A resolution commemorating the 158th anniversary of Historic Mount Olive AME Church.

The Council withdrew an $8,489,497 appropriation for General Fund balance and economic obligations and withdrew the appointment of Corey Ford to the Construction Trades Qualifying Board, both by 18-0 votes. Council minutes from the June 23, 2026, regular meeting were approved 17-0.

Finance Committee — July 21

The Finance Committee approved three related items for the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council, Inc. (SPAR), each by 6-0 votes:

• A $200,000 appropriation for personnel costs in the Springfield Cleanup Corps Program.
• An extension of the SPAR grant term to September 30, 2029.
• An increase of SPAR maximum indebtedness to $496,181.

Eight other ordinances were deferred, including items on the Mayor's Transfer Authority, a settlement agreement with Live Oak Ancient City Living, LLC, retiree adjustment payments, and an ordinance prohibiting expenditures for abortions and related services.

FAO Select Committee — July 27

The FAO Select Committee reviewed findings from the Council Auditor's Office on unbilled JEA water capacity fees. The committee identified an estimated $55 million to $75 million in unbilled capacity fees since 2003 and determined that no unbilled capacity fees are owed to the City of Jacksonville. JEA is developing new retroactive and future billing policies to present to its Board in early 2027. No formal votes were taken. The committee's charge runs for 60 days and expires September 18, with progress reports recommended to go to the Finance Committee after that date.

Land Use & Zoning Committee — July 21

The committee approved four items, each by 5-0 votes:

• A small-scale amendment to the 2045 Comprehensive Plan at 0 Old Kings Rd for Outdoor Depot, Inc.
• Rezoning at 0 Old Kings Rd from IL to IH for Outdoor Depot, Inc.
• A small-scale amendment at 5710 Pickettville Rd for Robert Ledwick, II.
• Rezoning with conditions at 5710 Pickettville Rd to permit an outdoor storage yard for Robert Ledwick, II.

Several public hearings were continued to future dates, including items at 0 Old Kings Rd (Sandcastle Capital Holdings) and 6919 Pitts Rd (Fluffy Buttons, LLC), both continued to August 4, 2026.

Rules Committee — July 20

The Rules Committee voted 7-0 to name the city-owned baseball complex at 2142 Melson Ave the "Warren A. Jones Baseball Complex at Hammond Park." The approval included amendments to attach a Historic Preservation Section report and waive specific timeline requirements. All other agenda items were deferred.

Other Committee Activity

The Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee received a presentation on hurricane season preparation and disaster recovery reimbursements on July 20. All listed ordinances were deferred. The Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee held its first meeting of the new Council Year on July 21 to discuss attendance rules and future topics; no votes were taken.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 3 — Rules Committee:** Discussing $413,900 for I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless shelter capacity, $390,000 for turn lanes and sidewalks at Trout River Blvd and New Kings Rd, and renaming a portion of Kingsbury Street to "Gopal Way."
• **Aug. 3 — Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee:** Reviewing a proposed $28.25 million completion grant and $21.412 million REV grant for a mixed-use project at 119 Beaver St W, plus $413,900 for homeless shelter capacity.
• **Aug. 4 — Finance Committee:** Reviewing the 2026-27 FY Consolidated Government Budget, including $56,000,000 for indigent care at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Inc., and annual property tax levies for multiple service districts.
• **Aug. 4 — Land Use & Zoning Committee:** Public hearings on rezoning requests including affordable senior housing at 888 Franklin St and townhomes at 7401 Old Kings Rd S.
• **Aug. 4 — Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee:** Vote on renaming Kingsbury Street to Gopal Way and discussion of electric bicycle regulations.