Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee

Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee — Feb 17, 2026

>> Good morning. Everyone will go ahead and call order her Tuesday, FEBRUARY 17, 2026 neighborhoods meeting. >> And we'll start with a roll call or introductions to my live MR. Delaney. >> Bill Delaney, mayor's office Russell Council Research. >> Mary Plus Office of General Counsel. Phil Peterson counselor's office. Good morning. Michael Boylan, district 6. Our city Council district one Randy White District 12. Mike Gay district, 2. Good morning, Tara Maclay Murray District 9. Good morning. COUNCILWOMAN Ju'coby Pittman visiting. Good morning to be Palooza District 7. >> All right. Welcome are visiting Councilmembers. We'll go ahead go to public comment that we have >> speaker cards? All right. Our first speaker be MISTER John. Jay, new new, know, 3 minutes to speak to a specific bill merge into sir. >> Name and address for the record. >> 3 minutes. Thank yous CHAIRMAN You're awesome. All righ. I am John j. Noon Jacksonville City Council resolution 2023, 0, 8, 1, 9, City Council district 4 cpac planning District 3 school board district 3 quick shirt update. Nick Allen is getting a shirt. The man is a superstar. W c? Fishing with confidence. Expanding on the Camaro. Fwc on a fishing hat and 2026. >> 0, 0, 0, >> For Double '07, Claire, a white Moncrief Pleat Creek. Pottsburg Creek is waterways. Have been 2026. 0, 0, 2, 4 agenda item. 4. 2026, 0, 0, 6, 3, and the nasa. Yeah. This is a new hat here. It's the new knee areas. Supports alcohol, fishing hat. Now this legislation should be citywide. Tia downtown includes alcohol. Now where's Ernest Smith in the Urban core cpac. Will this be only agenda? For the 2, 18, 2026 Tia Board meeting. Where is Colin Tarbert on this? Ok, moving on? They minute 30 moving on excuse me. Agenda item 6, 2026, 0, 0, 6, well permitting agreement between the city and Saint Johns River Water Management District. It's in neighborhoods tu but not waterways or finance. 2, you had the je presentation. So his neighborhoods getting. The je a presentation. This is huge. The Northeast, Florida Regional Council. Does anyone remember Jeff Sample with the Saint Johns River? Water Management District? Is there anyone from the Saint Johns River Water Management District here to speak on. 0, 0, 6, 6, fwc fishing with khaki. De k# # . It. And that means getting sure. You know, he's with the Northeast, Florida regional at 7 counties. Is this an emergency? Just and 40 seconds agenda item 7, 2026, 0, 0, 7, 4 save Rodman. The the manatees Robin Long DR. Andrew Tell Lisa Ryan, a man who was sitting right in front of me. Remember. Rodman? It's a result of war. Number 10, number 11, number 13, 17. Okay. Just stepping up 10 seconds 2026, 0, 0, 9, 3, media sounds like a Duval Tribune stuff. How much 0, 9, 4, park stuff. All right. Thank you, MR. New knee. >> I like >> Recognize Doctor Salem has joined us and visiting councilmember areas as joined us. And we have another speaker card. >> MR. Cornell, all over >> you'll be given 3 minutes to speak to specific item on the agenda and state your name and address for the record, sir. >> Yes, my name is Karnow addresses on file. This is really not. Here. But this is more about accountability. Up, tried to come into building 3 us. Because I have. And then junction on me against a particular council mem. Not being told no, I cannot be in over the speak to the to a specific bill on the agenda. Please. >> have broken every front in the House. And, you you Manipulating the system. Against the people like me. You pushed every but and, you know, see everything clear. And one thing that, you know, you will not do is the right thing. Because telling a lie. A lot more expensive, then telling the true missed almost an unknown. True. Along the Please speak to the bill that, you know. Okay. There's no specific law. Why would you guardrails on too? >> MR. Oliver of Su kindly twice to speak to the agenda. >> There's no agenda day. They can be discussed if he's not the will of the people. And that's what they need to have not fire. >> MR. MR. Oliver, we do have an agenda so that this month time. Well, trying out how many times a poco is has been falling out that that's it. So no more MR. Oliver it. >> Thank you, MR. That's our stop. His time. >> All right. Our next Evan Say your name incorrectly apologize, judge to. So you'll be given 3 minutes and please specific item on the agenda. State your name and address for the record. >> right at 48 43 court Jacksonville, Florida mayor on behalf Dhaka live. To speaking for Bill Twenty-twenty 6, 0, 0, 6, 3, >> The ordinance extending hours of operation downtown for alcohol sales. We're highly in support of it. And we have a lot of people that are in support of that. And we just wanted to point out that that will be a really good thing in terms of adding jobs to the downtown district, bringing in new businesses. You know, getting more tax revenue for the city and also creating an ecosystem downtown of having not you know, not just entertainment and concerts and all the fun stuff, but it will bring in a lot of restaurants and lot of people like it. Have thought about, you know, investing in downtown, but have just sort of sat on the sideline, you know, kind of worried about one that turned what happened waiting for. You know, the Jaguars to do their thing in Pearl Square to get finished. You know, this will kind of speed up the timeline for the downtown district. Just want to point out that, you know, based on some preliminary numbers that we had a company around. You know, we think it's going to generate somewhere in the tune of 1.0 4 million dollars actually are in taxes is going to create couple 100 more jobs. I think it's a great thing for now in town. We all see the momentum that's happening down here. And I think it's time to get it. Yeah. Give it that little extra. Boost that it needs just finally be. They're not reach 3 to 5 years away. We've been saying for the past 35 years. So you guys have done a great job with everything else. With all the incentive programs down there, everything else. So. Passed do speed everything up. And it all started happening very Right before your Thank you guys. Really appreciate all your hard work. And I hope you guys passes. >> All right. Thank you. Next week, Brenna, d a you have 3 minutes and give me give the your name and address for the record. >> Brianna, a 6, 4, 7, 4, Hatcher Drive Jacksonville, Florida, home. I just wanted to stand. In fact, the support for the bill of 2026 Dash, 0, 0, 6, 3, as a benefit in the downtown area. >> Thank We have no more. Speaker cards will go ahead and move to our We'll go ahead with item number one will be deferred that request a council PRESIDENT Carrico item to differ at request of COUNCILMAN Way. 3 is Due to notice and requirements. And number 4, 2026, 0, 0, 6, 3, could get emotional got a motion a second on the amendment, MR. Peterson. >> Threw the chair. The committee. The amendment would attach a revised map to include a legend, identifying the for areas within the downtown zone. That is applicable to this ordinance striking North Court church and inserting just North Korea. That was renamed through a 2022 ordinance correcting the direction as it relates to outlining the specific districts and then correcting various critters. >> think you any discussion only amendment. COUNCILMAN Areas. On the bill, ok council. On the bill or amendment ok, go ahead. >> Making sure once again. Good morning to everyone. Do the chair to MR. Peterson, so your want to for that. Is that all okay? But then it's on the building. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Let go to council tomorrow. Thank you, MR. Chair through the chair to MISTER Peterson night. >> Kept looking for boundaries as see North Korea and and central core. So I I didn't see a map where these boundaries are. How far north as Newark or how far we're central course. And so that's what I am seeing some. Threw the chair to are oh, yes, if you pull the bill Page 3. >> There is a map that outlines the areas that North Core. The central core sports entertainment district. There are it's not metes and bounds that were descriptions of what roads. It goes down and of forms. I can pass to my personal map for its a little bit better of a map in the one that included in the legislation just zoomed in a little bit more. >> Thank you. Philip threw a chair. Thank you. Looking at it and it still doesn't make any sense. >> Okay. Well, we'll go ahead let's go to the council council member. Though. No worse. We're speaking on the amendment on the amendment right now. Let me let me go to councilmember White. Okay. All right. Okay. Lit, oh, go ahead and go to Councilmember Clark. Murray. >> All right. Thank you, chair. So to So if you look in should be in the bill is attached to the bill so safe. It's not for example. Brought in state is where that North Korea's going to begin. And then it talks about those 3 different distinct corps. So it does have roads as opposed to meet him bounce like you are filing a piece if you're purchasing property is not the same. But the legislation does meet in the road once again. It begins with broaden state and it does talk about the center line of various roads that are downtown and they're all on the North Bank. That's all I want to say, chair just to help in that, that the information is in the legislation. >> Okay. So there's a map being printed out and MR. MR. Are going to you need to comment. >> to the chair and to the full committee. Just so you're aware the areas that are designated and the legislation and as you'll see on the map, they actually correspond to the area's already in the downtown overlay. So they're not new areas there specifically already defined within the code. And specifically you said that they're consistent with boundaries that already exist. >> Thank you. Let me go ahead to Doctor Salem. On the bill. Ok? Councilmember areas. Still on the bill, ok? Councilmember Pittman. Okay, Okay. Not on not on this amendment. So we're still. On the amendment. And the maps are pastel at the moment. Get everybody. Few seconds here. Look at it. And See if there's any more comments on the. On the amendment now that you've got the the map here in front of you. MR. Peterson. >> There's a chair and to the committee. So if you're looking at the map that Rebecca just distributed, it would be the areas that are at the church, central core and sports and entertainment. That is the only 3 that eye on that map that she distributed. >> All right. Any. >> Further discussions on the amendment? COUNCILMAN? >> Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN, satisfied with the map. But I'm just curious now. Threw the chair to bill sponsor. Brooklyn was left out and why? And they do have facilities that serve. Alcohol. Restaurant's things of that nature. Chaired by. >> Thank you, MISTER Through the chair. The reason why specific the drought this map was because I was creating a downtown district. Brooklyn is not part of the downtown or in court also brooking surrounded by a lot of residential multi-family homes. So really, really Signet I was looking at was more of the entertainment District of Jackson go you know, this is up for discussion for anybody to add anything they want to do. But I just know that adding something into an area where there's a lot of mixed use, multifamily. Bode well with the neighbors. So I on purpose took a Brooklyn. Brooklyn is not really a place where people say I want to go there to to stay all It's just more front dining more than anything And also, by the way, the map that was passed out. My apologies for not having it printed but and while that's a church, it's really the North Core. So just don't get them mixed up with like having churches or whatever the case is sent out to speak more on that pretty soon. Thank you. Councilmember weight. We're still on the amendment. Yes, thank chair to MISS Tariffs. >> I have one goal and know everybody's responded the and pretty how the slaying. But I have one goal that's almost on the Got a call from the company. Is that Adam? So Hogan? The the real thing teen to gain g and they're almost on the line. I would like to add that with an amendment if we could to go up maybe 3 rare, at least a Duval Street, if possible. All right. Do a technical. >> I recommend that you vote on the pending amendment. Now is that a technical amendment? And then I believe you have a couple of council members that would like to address other areas being included. Okay. So with that. >> No other speakers on the technical amendment all in favor say aye. Any opposed like was none. The amendment carries now Councilmember White. Yes, we're going to tears. Counselors. >> I believe if I could just that area that councilmember White was referencing. Philip Peterson is looking at the map. I believe it's already included in the in the entertainment district has proposed in Councilmember Arias says Bill. Ok, thank you. MR. CHAIRMAN. >> Yes, new Thank you, Alright. Well. We are here today. Obviously we've been talking about incentive packages for downtown and how we need to start weaning off of these incentive packages. And one of the ways that I was saying, well, what's a way to incentivize businesses to come to Jacksonville, small businesses, weather the restaurants or bars instead of giving the money or completion grants. I thought, well, how do we do next hour of operation that way? They can also create some more revenue kriisa more workforce as one of the speakers point out today. This will definitely increase not only taxes, but also the workforce here in downtown Jacksonville. So a lot we when I say we I say I spoke to the d I a MR. Reingold and myself as well MISTER Hertzberg might easy a and we were going over the different maps of all of downtown full downtown, overly them at the have in front of you as a full downtown overly. But I as I mentioned earlier, I specifically drought 3 different sections of the downtown overlay, which are the Central Court Sports Entertainment District and also the North Court primarily because these are the areas of town in downtown where there's more activities of entertainment. Not really surrounded by housing, specifically the cathedral. Map. There's a looks like it was just like penciled out for purpose. And that was the case because the cathedral district of downtown is where there's a lot of seniors living a lot of housing and we want to make sure that we don't impede their their way of life. So specifically, we decided on the North course central core in sports entertainment district. As I've always done in the past, when I do any kind of major legislation, I want to make sure that I mean, with the community. While I haven't had any public notice meetings because I want to first see how the body was receptive to this or not. I did speak to the Jackson Chamber and I have a letter of support from them. They took vote on this. And so it's right in front of you. I spoke to the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association, a letter of support as well too. And I spoke to the iea. Unfortunately, the I cannot have given me a letter support just yet because being tomorrow. But their resolutions right here in front of you. And once they meet, I feel pretty confident they will support and now be the 3rd piece support. So with that being said, as you can see, the business community and just all the leaders here in Jacksonville want this, they support this. As you just heard from one of the business owners. This is something that's much needed here in downtown Jackson. The night downtown Jackson with Jackson. When general we see many times that we are on the cusp potential and we compare ourselves to all the other larger cities, not only in Florida, across the United States. And this is one component that I think is missing for us to actually be on the mark on the map to be able to say we are I work at city so I just hold the you got support this and you guys any questions. Please feel free ask me, MISTER White. I do believe that the real tank cafe is in this map and they're part of the central court. But if anything will do look at the Rogers and myself, MR. Ryan go will confirm that they are in the central core. But yeah, I just hold support. Thank you so much. All right. Thank you. Let me go ahead and go to Councilmember Pittman. >> And believe she's Going to >> good morning. First of all, I want to the chair. I want to to see if that would be an opportunity to 2 main corridors in District 10, which would be part Main Street and also Norwood Avenue where there's new development. Both of those corridors, a few of the businesses have reached out to me to see if there's an opportunity that they can participate. And in this piece of legislation. And so today, that's why I'm here to see if that can happen. Those businesses that are inquiring. All right. Does it says that have experience? And I think most of you all know, since I've been here, the corridor has been my main interest to help with economic development in the districts that are being develop. And so I'm here today to see if they would be. An opportunity. Of course, I can't request it. But if someone on the committee could at least consider that. Have had an opportunity to Todd to Mary to see if it would be an opportunity to do this in this particular Bill. >> All right. Thank you to council members want to introduce the amendment. Ms Murray. Yes, so I will move the. >> an amendment to include businesses on Main Street so that we can open for discussion. I got a motion. >> MR. Second, MISTER Chair. If I could just to give you all kind of more concise information based on what MISS Pittman is asking for. So she's looking at the Norwood Avenue corridor. And that goes from Norwood Avenue to the Gateway area. And then from 4800 north Main Street out to the railroad track, those 2 commercial corridors of the to use that she's looking at a district 10. >> All right. So I've got a motion and a second. So will open this up for discussion on the pavement amendment. Ok? So I've MR. Boland, you're on the q and on the builder. The Amendment. >> Thank you, chair. So to the chair to so first of MISTER Populace is in a sense answered one of my questions. I think some of the things that you need for this particular type of amendment is first of all, you do need a map and we do need to know what those street bounties are. That's important. And then there's some of the elements, too, because with this bill is not just a matter of. City ordinance, but there are statutory requirements as well. So you probably needed look at the statue to determine how that's going to fit with, especially with that community. I think one of the other aspects that needs to be considered and I think councilmember areas, he mentioned it earlier about the distance to residential. Also, you have to think about the distance to churches because and I do church's chicken. I mean. >> Is that religious institutions so make sure that you have to take out those particular aspects to want to get in my moving it so that we could discuss it. But there's some other elements that you really need to research before you make that determination. >> Also, I know in my through the chair that we I'm having issues with parking lot parties. I mean, the they just get out of control. And unfortunately, someone ends up losing his or her life. And so that's another thing to consider as well. One of the aspects that I like in this particular bill that I areas has Councilmember Arias it is that they also consider security. And that's one of my concerns because unfortunately, when people get aca hall in them, they have a tendency to get become emboldened to do things that they probably wouldn't do if they didn't have had consumed alcohol. So security and safety is paramount to me. So that's another issue that you need to consider. Once again. Think about those things. I'm moving it. Before it can be a part of this legislation, in my opinion that aspect that you need to really research and consider. Thank you, Thank you. Let me go to Doctor Salem next. >> Thank you, CHAIRMAN To speak briefly on the bill that I will speak on. Councilmember Pittman's amendment. When I was councilmember area says age, my late mother would tell me nothing good happens after 01:00am. She might be extended to 2, arrow. Course, that was probably 30 years ago. I still believe that not preach that to my kids that are about your age. But the world has changed. I'm now tell them if you've had too much to drink, get an Uber. Give your keys to somebody else. Do not drive. Call me and I'll come pick you up. Push comes to shove. Don't get behind the wheel of a car. And I think that philosophy is become pretty well publicized out there on if you are out drinking and you don't have somebody in your party, that's not drinking that kind of thing. So reluctantly, I'm going to support the bill on these particular areas because I think every one that I've spoken to is supportive of these particular areas. So I'll support the bill and now on the Pittman Amendment. My concern is these areas have been well publicized. And I think there's a good consensus behind those. If we're going to add any areas to this bill, I worry about the public public hearings making sure that everyone understands what's going on. If we extend it. So I would prefer. Pass this bill as it is. And then if areas such as the ones Councilmember Pittman has mentioned, want to extend their hours, come back with a separate bill. So there will be public hearings and everything else and will know how people feel about it. And that particular area. So I won't support that Pittman Amendment today would consider it if I was comfortable that the people around there, we're supportive of it. All right. Thank you. >> are you still on the bill? You want us? Okay. Council tomorrow. >> Thank you, MR. Don't know how I'm going to vote. I think the concept it's great to expand. Honestly don't know how many jobs it's going to create. And sounds like a good argument. Don't know how plausible of an argument it is. Speaking to the speaking to the Pittman Amendment saw that coming because they are communities who are going to feel that. They're disenfranchised, that you have to go downtown. They can operate until 3 in the morning when they themselves operate. Establishments that serve alcohol. And so I don't know what the remedy is. I don't know if it's a comeback. And if it does come back, will this body be willing to the legislation or says something that needs to be addressed. Now it's but I understand her point that there are communities that are going to feel. There they go again. Doing everything elsewhere and leaving us out. >> Thank you. So let me go Pittman. >> There thank you for bringing that point up. That was the gist of the conversation with some of the businesses who had been and business for several years wanted me to see if I could bring this as an amendment. These are not new organizations. They have been open from many years in those corridors in the district. And as a COUNCILWOMAN Clock, Murray mentioned in these particular areas, they're not number one, any churches that are in close proximity security is already the air and I'll be happy to work with Dylan, our Mary to try to get app as well. It's in an area. I don't know if you have been 2 gateway area from actually the forensic lap up into Gateway shopping center. They are really developing that area and the same on Main Street. Is. A commercial area already and it will be designated to those businesses that are in the area that have restaurants and, you know, bars as well. So I just want to just say, I'm I'm sure, probably at the end of the when we get the finish line, there will be probably other districts that have commercial corridors and I'm for me, I'm really trying to build those areas out from economic development, you kno