Jacksonville Waterways Commission

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 9:30 AM City of Jacksonville 117 W. Duval Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 Meeting Minutes Council Chamber, 1st Floor, City Hall Jacksonville Waterways Commission CM Ken Amaro, Chair CM Mike Gay, Vice Chair CM Jimmy Peluso - Late Arrival 9:34 a.m./Early Departure 10:30 a.m. CM Matt Carlucci, Alternate Jon Michael Barker Robert Birtalan - Late Arrival 9:51 a.m. Representative Dean Black - Excused Mark Devereaux - Excused Andrew Fraden Marc Hardesty - Late Arrival 9:35 a.m. Richard Hartley J. Hobson Matt Jones General Public Rep - Vacant D. R. Repass, Planning Commission - Excused Adam Hoyles, Environmental Protection Board - Absent Barbara Ireland Hobson, Legislative Assistant II Shannon MacGillis, Office of General Counsel Dr. Gerard Pinto, Jacksonville University Steven Libby, Council Research Jim Suber, Waterways Coordinator Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 COUNCIL RULE 4.505 DISRUPTION OF MEETING Any person who disrupts a regular meeting of the City Council, standing committees, special or select committees, sub-committees or any other public meeting presided over by a City Council Member may be forthwith barred, removed, or otherwise ejected, in the discretion of the presiding officer, from further attendance at that meeting. If necessary, due to the nature of the disruption, the audience may be cleared from the Council Chambers or meeting location in the discretion of the presiding officer. Any person who refuses to leave the City Council Chamber may be subject to arrest. Disruption of a meeting includes the following types of behaviors: 1) Any form of political campaigning or electioneering regarding a specific candidate or group of candidates in City elections; 2) Impeding the orderly progress of the meeting by shouting, yelling, whistling, chanting, singing, dancing, clapping, foot stomping, snapping fingers, cheering, jeering, using artificial noise makers or musical instruments, waving signs of any size, or engaging in any other display of excessive noise, sounds, or movement; 3) Displaying or waving signs of any sort, except where used to support the speaker’s presentation at the podium, and only where the sign is 21 inches by 21 inches or smaller in size and cannot be displayed in a manner which unreasonably obstructs the view of the dais for any member of the audience, regardless of message; 4) Audible noise from cellphones or other electronic devices; 5) Consumption of alcohol or controlled substances; 6) Making vulgar or offensive remarks or gestures, or using threatening language or gestures, including but not limited to pantomiming discharging a firearm, choking, or throat-cutting; 7) Refusing to stop speaking when his or her time has expired or is otherwise directed by the presiding officer to do so due to disruptive behavior as described herein; 8) Returning to the meeting after having been removed or ejected, or attempting to do so. Page 1 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 1. Meeting Convened: 9:30 a.m. Meeting Adjourned: 10:58 a.m. 2. Attendance 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Approval of Minutes April 15, 2026, JWC Meeting Minutes A motion to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2026 meeting was made, seconded, and approved without objection. 5. St. Johns River Status Report on Water Quality & Manatees Page 2 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 Dr. Gerard Pinto, Jacksonville University, reported that the City remained in a drought and that the St. Johns River Water Management District had declared a water shortage. Dr. Pinto reported that salinity was elevated across all areas as a result of the drought. He stated that recent rainfall over the past few days had not reduced salinity levels but had cooled water temperatures by approximately one degree to 77°F. Dr. Pinto reported that year-to-date rainfall was five inches below normal, though the area had received a couple of inches of rain in recent days. He reported that algal bloom conditions from Jacksonville south to Lake George showed mixed algae with no toxins. Dr. Pinto reported that two manatee deaths had been recorded since the Commission's last meeting: one at the Queens Harbor lock, and one near the U.S. Coast Guard Station that was not necropsied and remained undetermined. He stated that the Queens Harbor lock would need to be monitored, as it had recorded its second manatee death of the year. Dr. Pinto stated that he had conducted manatee aerial surveys in April and counted 88 manatees in the area. Mr. Fraden asked Dr. Pinto about the cause of the two manatee deaths at the Queens Harbor lock. Dr. Pinto stated that manatees typically use the Intracoastal Waterway and branch off into tributaries such as Queens Harbor to rest. He explained that three operators staffed the lock and attempted to monitor for manatees to allow them safe passage in and out, but that when the lock opened and water rushed through it, animals could be drawn in and become trapped or crushed when the gates closed. Dr. Pinto stated that such deaths had not occurred in some time but that two had now been recorded, despite sensors on the gates intended to alert operators. Mr. Fraden asked whether other communities with locks had developed solutions to prevent such deaths. Dr. Pinto stated that locks exist throughout Florida and cited the Ocklawaha River as an example, noting that it has several locks operating in the same manner as the Queens Harbor lock but that problems still occurred. Mr. Fraden asked whether those sensors were mandated. Dr. Pinto stated that sensors are required by state law and the federal Endangered Species Act, but that the technology sometimes broke down or malfunctioned. Mr. Barker asked Dr. Pinto whether any mechanism existed, either through the City or JU, for someone to meet with the lockmaster and inspect the lock. Dr. Pinto stated that he had contacted the lockmaster and that the FWC is typically contacted to recover the animal and perform a necropsy to determine cause of death, which triggers various state-level and federal-level manatee protections. Dr. Pinto stated that, following the second manatee death, he had contacted the lockmaster to arrange a meeting to discuss improved monitoring of the situation. Dr. Pinto stated that the lock operators had been spoken to by the state about manatee protection, but that when he had visited them on the subject, they had been more reticent. Mr. Barker asked Dr. Pinto to confirm that no formal mechanism existed. Dr. Pinto confirmed. 6. Presentation: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office | Intelligence Unit | Hazardous Device Unit | Marine Unit Page 3 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 Police Lieutenant Kevin Kilcoin, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Marine Unit, presented an overview of the unit. Lt. Kilcoin stated that the Marine Unit is responsible for ensuring safety, enforcing state and local boating laws, answering emergency calls, and providing services including routine patrols, port security, search and rescue, and coordination with state and federal law enforcement partners on the waterways. Lt. Kilcoin reviewed the Marine Unit's personnel structure, functions, and facility location. Lt. Kilcoin presented images of the Marine Unit's facility exterior and equipment, including a 32-foot vessel seized as part of a narcotics investigation and stored on-site to demonstrate the facility's storage capacity, various patrol vessels, a landing craft used for larger operations, the dock with eight lifts, a 2010 SilverShip, and two jet skis. Lt. Kilcoin presented a call summary report showing the Marine Unit's call volume over the past three years. He stated that the unit averaged 1,000 calls per year, with the busiest days falling on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Lt. Kilcoin reviewed calls per hour and noted that call volume began to pick up at 7:00 a.m., though officers remained on call for overnight requests. Lt. Kilcoin reviewed the top 25 addresses for call volume and noted that bridges and boat ramps were the most common locations. Lt. Kilcoin reviewed boating statistics from the 2024 FWC Florida Boating Accident Statistical Report, noting that there were over 65,000 registered vessels in Duval County and the surrounding counties, with St. Johns County ranked ninth in the state for boating accidents. He stated that Duval County's ranking would rise when the 2025 report was released, due to a single boating accident with four fatalities near the Dames Point Bridge. Lt. Kilcoin provided further statistics from the report, highlighting the lack of boater education as a major concern. Lt. Kilcoin highlighted the Marine Unit's efforts to expand boater education, stating that officers distribute educational pamphlets daily during stops. He stated that the unit prefers to provide educational materials informing operators of violations rather than issue citations. Lt. Kilcoin reviewed Florida's new Boater Freedom Act, which requires law enforcement to have probable cause to conduct a vessel safety stop, including probable cause for marine sanitation equipment inspections. He described the sanitation inspection as a check to confirm that vessels' Y-valves were closed to prevent boaters from dumping waste overboard. Lt. Kilcoin presented an image showing a vessel surrounded by bright green water, which he explained resulted from officers placing a green dye tablet in the vessel's toilet and flushing it to demonstrate that waste was being discharged into the water. Lt. Kilcoin reviewed life jacket requirements for children under the age of six and boater safety education requirements for vessels with motors of 10 horsepower or more, noting that the education requirement applies only to boaters born on or after January 1, 1988. Lt. Kilcoin stated that bow riding remained a safety issue and noted that the state had eliminated a rule in 2016 that had treated bow riding as careless or reckless vessel operation. Lt. Kilcoin described the Marine Unit's port security operations, the Waterborne Response Team's mission, the process for transporting individuals in custody, coordination with other law enforcement agencies to establish safety zones for special events, and the removal of objects hazardous to navigation. He noted that finding and removing floating concrete docks occurred on roughly a monthly basis. Lt. Kilcoin highlighted the dangers of inlet navigation, citing the 2016 death of José Fernández. Lt. Kilcoin discussed the law enforcement challenges in the Fort George Inlet area, citing its constantly changing landscape that made navigation difficult and its popularity as a gathering location for parties. Lt. Kilcoin Page 4 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 provided an overview of the area's manatee protection zones, the Marine Unit's role in rescue operations following aviation accidents over water, search and rescue operations, and the integration of drones into the unit's operations. CM Peluso asked Lt. Kilcoin whether the Florida Legislature was interested in revisiting the bow riding rule. Lt. Kilcoin stated that it was not. CM Peluso asked Lt. Kilcoin whether counties were permitted to require boater safety cards. Lt. Kilcoin stated that he believed Florida had at one time required all boaters to hold a boater safety card until the Legislature changed it. Captain Jim Suber, Waterways Coordinator, stated that no prior rule had existed before a phase-in process for boater safety cards was implemented. He further stated that the Florida Boating Advisory Council of FWC was working with FWC on potentially drafting legislation on the bow riding issue and a licensing requirement for boating for the next legislative session. CM Peluso stated that those issues were being moved in the right direction. Lt. Kilcoin agreed. Mr. Fraden asked for clarification on the life jacket requirements for children. Lt. Kilcoin stated that the requirement derived from a USCG rule and federal regulation, and that Florida state statute requires children under the age of six on vessels under 26 feet to wear a life jacket. Mr. Fraden asked Lt. Kilcoin to confirm that children aged 11 or 12 were not required to wear a life jacket. Lt. Kilcoin confirmed. Mr. Birtalan asked Lt. Kilcoin for his opinion on installing markers to clearly mark the end of the jetties. Lt. Kilcoin agreed with Mr. Birtalan but stated that any markers installed would need to remain in place against the volume of water flowing through. Mr. Birtalan agreed that durability was the issue and that any marker installed would need to last significantly. Lt. Kilcoin emphasized the importance of education and stated that the Marine Unit trains its officers not to cut corners and to follow safe, familiar routes using sea buoys. Lt. Kilcoin highlighted the dangers of neglecting safety, stating that jetties were difficult to see at high tide and at night. He mentioned that the St. Marys Inlet was notoriously dangerous because its jetties were difficult to see. Mr. Birtalan stated that many similar inlets had a buoy positioned closer to the end of the jetties than the local inlet did. CM Gay requested that the Marine Unit monitor the cut-through on Shad Creek as warmer weather would bring increased boating activity. He stated that he had received many calls regarding the area, noting that the slow zone there was being ignored. Mr. Hardesty asked Lt. Kilcoin whether extra educational materials could be obtained from JSO to distribute through bait and tackle stores. Lt. Kilcoin confirmed that this could be arranged, stating that the Marine Unit already distributed educational pamphlets to boat rental businesses. 7. Announcements: Page 5 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 Chair Amaro gave the following announcements: FIND Duval County Outreach Event Invitation - Thursday May 14th, 2026 - 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM *Waterway tour onboard the St. Johns River Taxi departing from the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Dock, 225 E. Coastline Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Please arrive by 5:45 PM, as the vessel will depart promptly at 6:00 PM. FIND Board Meeting - Friday May 15th, 2026, 8:00 AM - Hyatt Regency Jacksonville *Nomination Committee Meeting will begin at 8:15 AM, followed by the Finance and Budget Committee meeting at 8:30 AM and regular Board meeting at 9 AM. Safe Boating Week & Manatee Awareness Press Conference - Monday, May 18th, 2026, at 10:00 AM, at the St. Johns Boat Ramp, 901 Museum Circle on the River Walk west of the ramp. St. Johns River Closure Notice - UNITED STATES COAST GUARD SECTOR JACKSONVILLE IRONMAN JACKSONVILLE SAFETY ZONE ADVISORY - On 16 May, 2026 – A safety zone will be established for the water portion of the IRONMAN JACKSONVILLE Marine Event from 07:00am to 11:00am. CM Peluso announced two ribbon-cutting ceremonies scheduled for 11:00 a.m. that day: one at the Riverfront Music Garden, and one at the bridge in front of the Brooklyn section of the Riverwalk. Mr. Hardesty announced that a contractor had been secured for an artificial reef project in the Harm's Ledge area, projected to be completed in August. He stated that the project is a 500-ton rubble reef and would be the first artificial reef in the City in twenty years. 8. Public Comment Mr. Carnell Oliver spoke on the City's consolidated structure and its institutions. Mr. John Nooney spoke on FIND and JWC. Mr. Jake Jacobs thanked CM Diamond and other Council Members for their commitment to a watershed study on Hogpen Creek. 9. New Business Legislation ORD Auth the Mayor & Corp Sec to Execute a 2nd Amendment to the Agrmt with JU to Renew the Agrmt for a 2nd Add’l YR for the Continuing Manatee Protection Studies for FY 24-25 & FY 25-26, & to Increase the Max Indebtedness by an Add’l $193,549 for a New Total Max Indebtedness Not to Exceed $283,549, Pursuant to Approp Funds Previously Auth by Ords 2024 504-E & 2025 504-E; Prov for Oversight by the Planning & Dev Dept (Dillard) (Req of Mayor) (JWC Apv) 4/28/26 CO Introduced: NCSPHS, F, JWC 5/4/26 NCSPHS Read 2nd & Rerefer 2026-0332 Page 6 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 5/5/26 F Read 2nd & Rerefer 5/12/26 CO PH Read 2nd & Rerefer 5/18/26 NCSPHS Approve 6-0 Public Hearing Pursuant to Ch 166, F.S. & C.R. 3.601 - 5/12/26 Shannon MacGillis, OGC, reminded the Commission that she had stated at the previous meeting that action by the Commission on 2026-0332 was not required. She stated that the Council President had since formally assigned 2026-0332 to the JWC, giving the Commission grounds to act on it. Mr. Eric Hinton, Planning and Development Department, stated that, following a question raised at the previous meeting, he had spoken with FWC about grant opportunities but had found few grant opportunities specific to manatees. The bill was moved and seconded. 2026-0332 was approved without objection. Other New Business RESO Declaring the Week of May 16-22, 2026, as National Safe Boating Week in Jax & Encouraging All Residents & Visitors to Practice Safe Boating Habits (Libby) (Introduced by CMs Howland, J. Carlucci, Salem, Peluso, Lahnen, Gay, Amaro, Arias, Johnson, Miller & Freeman) (Co-Sponsor CM Pittman) 4/28/26 CO Introduced: R, JWC 5/4/26 R Approve 7-0 5/12/26 CO Approve 18-0 2026-0349-A Ms. MacGillis informed the Commission that 2026-0349 had been on the Consent Agenda and was approved unanimously at the previous day's City Council meeting. She stated that, since the resolution had been approved by City Council, 2026-0349 was on the JWC agenda for informational purposes only. Discussion on email re: St. Johns Marina Ramp Extension & Public Access Page 7 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 Brian Burket, Parks Department, discussed emails from Mr. Retterbush regarding the St. Johns Marina Ramp, in which Mr. Retterbush had raised concerns about safety and the possibility of extending the ramp. Mr. Burket informed the Commission that the St. Johns Marina Ramp is on the Southbank and was built in 1965 as a 42-foot ramp. He stated that, because the ramp sits on the inside bend of the river, sediment collects in the area. He stated that the St. Johns Marina Ramp is the only ramp in the downtown area, with the next closest ramp located in Arlington. Mr. Burket stated that the ramp had been extended from 42 feet to 54 feet in 2005, but that, because of the sediment buildup, the end of the boat ramp is regularly buried in sediment. Mr. Burket stated that they did clean it out and had performed dredges over the years, but that it had been a number of years since the last dredging. Mr. Burket stated that they had received a FIND grant in 2017 to conduct dredging in the area and consider further lengthening the ramp. He stated that the project had been paused because the adjacent bulkhead was of unknown design criteria and was old and aging, and because a restaurant had been situated above the bulkhead at the time. He stated that a dredging operation could have caused the bulkhead to fail and the restaurant to collapse into the river. Mr. Burket stated that, because of the bulkhead, engineers had declined to design the project. He stated that the bulkhead has since been replaced and that they had received a FIND grant for designing spot dredging sites where access docks and boat ramps would be located in downtown. Mr. Burket stated that the project is now in the construction phase and that he expected to receive a FIND grant for construction by the end of the year. He stated that, by summer 2027, the dredging projects would be conducted, which would include the St. Johns Marina Ramp area and would unearth the end of the boat ramp. Mr. Burket stated that Mr. Retterbush and others would like to see the ramp extended another 12 feet. He stated that they had a preliminary concept for a 12-foot extension but that they did not currently have funding for the project, and that the scope of the dredging project could not be changed to include the extension. Mr. Burket recommended moving forward with the dredging project and then considering a boat ramp extension as a subsequent step. He stated that, if there were strong interest from the City Council and the Mayor's Office to fund the project, the extension would proceed, but cautioned that lengthening the ramp to 64 feet would result in a longer ramp that would likely be buried over time, and that the City would need to commit to regular maintenance dredging. Chair Amaro asked Mr. Burket when he anticipated the dredging would occur in 2027. Mr. Burket stated that he expected to receive the grant by the end of the year, after which an advertisement and contracting process would be conducted, and that the dredging would be performed in summer 2027. Mr. Barker asked Mr. Burket whether there is a proposed redesign that was waiting on redevelopment of the area before any marina or boat ramp changes proceeded. Mr. Burket stated that the old River City Brewery property had been sold by the City to a private developer for planned redevelopment in coordination with DIA and Public Works. He stated that part of the agreed redevelopment included commitments from the developer to restore docks that had previously been on the site. Mr. Burket addressed Mr. Retterbush's recommendation to add boat slips in the vicinity of the boat ramp. He stated that the City has no long-term slips and allows the private industry to handle that, which he foresaw happening in the redevelopment. Mr. Burket further stated that the boat ramp is pinned between the redevelopment and the Acosta Bridge, so it cannot be widened. Mr. Barker asked Mr. Burket whether he had previously discussed that parking in the area was limited. Page 8 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 Mr. Burket stated that there are approximately 13 to 15 spaces at the existing facility. He stated that, under the redevelopment agreement, the entrance driveway to the boat ramp would be transferred to the developer and used as the entrance to the developer's parking garage. He stated that Public Works had a project to redirect traffic flows to the boat ramp from under the Acosta Bridge, and that the area would be reorganized to gain additional parking spaces. He stated that, by the end of the year, construction should be occurring, and that the boat ramp would need to be closed periodically as a result. Mr. Barker asked Mr. Burket whether Mr. Retterbush was aware of all the plans for the site. Mr. Burket stated that he, Mr. Retterbush, CM Carlucci, and a representative from the Mayor's Office had met to discuss Mr. Retterbush's concerns. Mr. Hobson asked Mr. Burket whether funding should prioritize the dredging rather than an entirely new project, and whether there were any safety concerns regarding the new bulkhead. Mr. Burket stated that the previous issue had been that the old bulkhead was aged and the as-built drawings were not available, but that the new bulkhead resolves those issues. Mr. Burket stated that funding for the dredging project was pending and that he fully expected to receive funding for the project. Mr. Hobson asked about funding for dredging five years out. Mr. Burket stated that there is currently no funding for recurring maintenance dredging and that the grant funders, while supportive of the dredging project, do not like to see requests for maintenance dredging. He stated that, for maintenance dredging, the grant funders expect the City either to fund the work itself or to design a solution that minimizes the dredging requirements. Mr. Hardesty expressed disagreement with extending the boat ramp, stating that the ramp is located in a constrained area and that an extension would allow for larger vessels while creating traffic problems and insufficient parking. He raised the possibility of identifying another site in downtown that could resolve the issues. 10. Old Business Shad Creek Resolution - Update CM Gay stated that he is continuing work with Captain Suber on the Shad Creek Resolution and compiling all the information needed for FWC. George Crady Bridge Update CM Gay stated that the state representatives had returned to session and had been unable to meet with them in May as planned, and that a future meeting regarding the George Crady Bridge would be scheduled. 11. Adjournment Pursuant to the American with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please allow 1-2 business days notification to process; last minute requests will be accepted; but may not be possible to fulfill. Please contact Disabled Services Division at: V 904-255-5466, TTY-904-255-5476, or email your request to KaraT@coj.net. Page 9 of 10 Jacksonville Waterways Commission Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026 Minutes: Steven Libby, Council Research slibby@coj.net, (904) 255-5147 Posted: 5/18/26, 2:30 p.m. Page 10 of 10