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DUVAL COUNTY · LOCALlocal legislationEnacted
Enacted

Funding Approval for 'Healing Thru Arts' Program

Original title: ORD Approp $10,000 from the Special Council Contingency Acct to the KHA Fund (10901) - Esp - Out-of-School Time Prog Essential Svcs Category, to Prov Funding to Academy of Scholars, Inc. ("Academy") for the Healing Thru Arts Prog as Described Herein; Prov for Carryover to FY 25-26; Amend the 11th Revised Schedule M to Ord 2024-511-E; Waiving Certain Requirements of Sec 77.111 (Contracts; Contract Administration; Carryover), Ch 77 (Kids Hope Alliance), Ord Code, to Exempt the Svcs to Be Prov by the Academy from Competitive Procurement; Apv, & Auth the Mayor, or Her Desig, & the Corp Sec, &/or the CEO of the KHA to Execute & Deliver on Behalf of the City a Grant Agrmt btwn the City & Academy of Scholars, Inc. for the Prog; Prov for Oversight by KHA; Req 1 Cycle Emerg Passage (Staffopoulos) (Introduced by CM Johnson) (Co-Sponsor CM Freeman) 9/9/25 CO Introduced: NCSPHS, R, F 9/15/25 NCSPHS Emergency/Approve 3-2 (Defer) (Gay, Salem) 9/15/25 R Emergency/Approve 5-2 (Gay, Salem) 9/16/25 F Emergency/Approve 5-1 (Salem) 9/23/25 CO PH Emergency/Approve 15-3 (Diamond, Gay, Salem) Public Hearing Pursuant to Ch 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/23/25

Record date · September 23, 2025

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What This Bill Does

This ordinance authorizes a $10,000 grant from the City Council's contingency fund to the Academy of Scholars, Inc. for their 'Healing Thru Arts' after-school program. It also waives standard competitive bidding requirements for this contract and allows the Kids Hope Alliance to oversee the project.

Why it matters

The city is bypassing standard competitive bidding rules to provide $10,000 in public funds directly to a private organization for a specific youth arts program, with the funding remaining available through the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Academy of Scholars, Inc.

The organization receives $10,000 in public funding and is exempted from standard competitive bidding requirements.

Directly affected

Kids Hope Alliance

The agency is assigned oversight responsibilities for the grant and the program.

Directly affected

City Council

The Council is responsible for the appropriation of $10,000 from its contingency account.

Key Facts

  • The City Council approved an appropriation of $10,000 from the Special Council Contingency Account to the Kids Hope Alliance (KHA) Fund.
  • The funds are designated for the 'Healing Thru Arts' program operated by the Academy of Scholars, Inc.
  • The ordinance waives competitive procurement requirements under Section 77.111 of the Ordinance Code for this specific contract.
  • The funding is authorized to carry over into the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Show all 9 facts
  • The Kids Hope Alliance is tasked with providing oversight for the program.
  • The Mayor, Corporate Secretary, or CEO of KHA are authorized to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the city.
  • The ordinance amends the 11th Revised Schedule M to Ordinance 2024-511-E.
  • The ordinance was passed by the City Council on September 23, 2025, with a 15-3 vote.
  • The legislation was processed as an emergency measure, requiring only one cycle of passage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the competitive bidding process waived?
The ordinance explicitly waives the requirements of Section 77.111 of the Ordinance Code to allow the city to contract directly with the Academy of Scholars, Inc. without a process.
Who is responsible for making sure the money is spent correctly?
The Kids Hope Alliance (KHA) is designated to provide oversight for the program and the grant agreement.
Can the money be used after the current fiscal year?
Yes, the ordinance includes provisions for the funding to carry over into the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

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Full breakdown

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Discoveries

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Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Procurement Waiver Pattern

The ordinance explicitly waives competitive procurement requirements, which is a notable deviation from standard city contracting policy for a $10,000 grant.

Academy of Scholars, Inc.Kids Hope Alliance

Sources

Open source document

webapi.legistar.com

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance35
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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