Part ofenvironmental protection →
DUVAL COUNTY · LOCALlocal legislationEnacted
Enacted
Funding for the 18th State of the River Report
Original title: ORD Approp $112,962.00 in Fund Balance from the Environmental Protection Fund to Provide Funding for the 18th State of the River Report for the Lower St. Johns River Basin; Prov for Waiver of Sec 111.755 (Environmental Protection Fund), Pt 7 (Environment & Conservation), Ch 111 (Special Revenue & Trust Accounts), Ord Code, to Authorize Utilization of Funds from the Fund to Continue Funding the Annual State of the River Report; Prov for Waiver of Sec 360.602 (Uses of Fund), Pt 6 (Environmental Protection Fund), Ch 360 (Environmental Regulation), Ord Code, to Allow for the Utilization of Funds from the Fund to Continue Funding the Annual State of the River Report; Apv, & Auth the Mayor, or Her Desig, & the Corp Sec to Execute & Deliver an Agrmt btwn the City & JU for the Proj; Invoking the Exemption in Sec 126.108(g) (Exemptions from Competitive Solicitation), Subpt a (General Regulations), Pt 1 (General Regulations; Ethics & Transparency in Public Contracting), Ch 126 (Procurement Code), Ord Code, to Direct Contract with JU for the Proj; Waiving Sec 118.107 (Nonprofits to Receive Funding through a Competitive Evaluated Award Process; Waiver & Disclosures), Pt 1 (General Provisions), Ch 118 (City Grants), Ord Code, to Allow a Direct Contract with JU; Prov for Oversight by the Office of Administrative Svcs, Environmental Quality Div; Requiring Annual Reports (B.T. 25-117) (Dillard) (Req of Mayor) (JWC Apv)
9/9/25 CO Introduced: R, TEU, F, JWC
9/15/25 R Read 2nd & Rerefer
9/16/25 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer
9/16/25 F Read 2nd & Rerefer
9/23/25 CO PH Read 2nd & Rerefer
10/6/25 R Amend/Approve 6-0
10/7/25 TEU Amend/Approve 7-0
10/7/25 F Amend/Approve 7-0
10/14/25 CO Amend/Approve 16-0
Public Hearing Pursuant to Ch 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/23/25
October 14, 2025
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Finance Connection
Notable money activity
$148,250across 20 reported contributions
| Candidate | Donor | Amount | Industry | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Laborers' International Union of North America - Local 89 PAC Fund | $20,000 | N/A | Sep 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Southern California District Council of Laborers PAC - SCC | $20,000 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Southern California District Council of Laborers PAC - SCC | $20,000 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Laborers' International Union of North America - Local 89 PAC Fund | $20,000 | N/A | Sep 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Laborers' Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition PAC - SCC | $20,000 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union No. 1230 PAC - SCC | $5,000 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union No. 1230 PAC - SCC | $5,000 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Southern California Pipe Trades District Council #16 PAC - SCC | $5,000 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | Southern California Pipe Trades District Council #16 PAC - SCC | $5,000 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | William Baber | $4,000 | Councilmember | Oct 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | William Baber | $4,000 | Councilmember | Oct 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | Joshua Rebello | $2,700 | Youth and Family Service Coordinator | Jul 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | Joshua Rebello | $2,700 | Youth and Family Service Coordinator | Jul 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | Jon Segal | $2,500 | Sales | Oct 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | Jon Segal | $2,500 | Sales | Oct 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | Clarence A. Shelmon | $2,000 | Retired | Aug 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021 | Clarence A. Shelmon | $2,000 | Retired | Aug 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2022 | Clarence A. Shelmon | $2,000 | Retired | Jun 2021 |
| Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2022 | Clarence A. Shelmon | $2,000 | Retired | Jun 2021 |
| Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89 | DMFI PAC | $1,850 | N/A | Oct 2021 |
Reported financial relationships and timing signals. This does not prove motive or influence. Readers draw their own conclusions.
The Frame
What this does
The city is allocating $112,962 in public funds to Jacksonville University for environmental research, while simultaneously waiving standard procurement and grant competition requirements to ensure the university receives the contract.
Who is mentioned in the record
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Jacksonville University
The university is the designated recipient of a direct contract for environmental research services.
City of Jacksonville taxpayers
Taxpayer funds from the Environmental Protection Fund are being allocated to a specific project without a competitive bidding process.
What changed
Last recorded activity October 14, 2025.
What's next
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
This ordinance authorizes the city to spend $112,962 from the Environmental Protection Fund to pay Jacksonville University (JU) for the 18th annual State of the River Report. It bypasses standard competitive bidding and grant application rules to allow a direct contract with the university.
Key Facts
- The city will appropriate $112,962 from the Environmental Protection Fund.
- The funds are designated for the 18th State of the River Report for the Lower St. Johns River Basin.
- The ordinance waives Section 111.755 and Section 360.602 of the Ordinance Code to allow the use of the fund for this specific report.
- The ordinance invokes an exemption from competitive solicitation (Section 126.108(g)) to allow a direct contract with Jacksonville University.
- The ordinance waives Section 118.107 to bypass the standard competitive grant process for nonprofits.
- The Mayor or her designee and the Corporate Secretary are authorized to execute the agreement with Jacksonville University.
- The Office of Administrative Services, Environmental Quality Division, is assigned oversight responsibility.
- The project requires the submission of annual reports.
- The ordinance was approved by the City Council with a 16-0 vote on October 14, 2025.
Why It Matters
The city is allocating $112,962 in public funds to Jacksonville University for environmental research, while simultaneously waiving standard procurement and grant competition requirements to ensure the university receives the contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the competitive bidding process skipped?
The ordinance explicitly invokes an exemption from and waives the standard competitive grant process for nonprofits to allow a direct contract with Jacksonville University.
What is the money being used for?
The funds are being used to pay for the 18th annual State of the River Report, which monitors the health of the Lower St. Johns River Basin.
News Coverage
No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift100% confidence
Bypassing Competitive Procurement
The city is utilizing multiple legal waivers to bypass standard competitive bidding and grant processes for a recurring research contract.
Connected Entities
organizationOffice of Administrative Services, Environmental Quality Division“Responsible for oversight of the project.”Map →
organizationJacksonville University“The recipient of the direct contract for the State of the River Report.”Map →
Sources
Open source document
webapi.legistar.com
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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