[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6602309,"mediaKeyId","3004682-824f095c72bb3cd94f0a3a822c708890","parentId",3004682,"title","Residents fill council chamber to oppose proposed $1 billion jail, Brentwood morgue and anti‑immigrant ordinance","audioSeconds",60,"startMs",0,"endMs",60000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3004682-824f095c72bb3cd94f0a3a822c708890&start=0&end=60","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3004682-824f095c72bb3cd94f0a3a822c708890/thumbnail_0.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602309/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Residents-fill-council-chamber-to-oppose-proposed-1-billion-jail-Brentwood-morgue-and-antiimmigrant-ordinance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602309-a598a7fb320d7f9eb097638c6594e7e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196293&Signature=jUJadneSx~YCMnDN4tnMUGXU1vQ9Q1u2Btnn8PV~sxv2VW-CmtV~t97SiCiVrXywSnj9KgYTDVdxfwO8V3yBgu63vMQO7thJLxYAblJodL~c-RZDe1xitRfKnsGWwVVtbjduYY3x32M7k3i3e~au4gtqId1yQ26ldXlKHF2cfulnLqZdHIVoPM3T6HVRsCo5zvPtHWGHDKXazWfO93mK1fCGPEH8CIR3n5FLtemgwXgCmZ~2syTJ1a2QjtdUx3q0s0HOK-kVdoOnBQ-XASN3gc1tlOTamtczgCwf02QU6vvVjmJ~6N0fyV7DZh-MaUWbRMZArwhXVD0AYDURENbQoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","Dozens of residents used the public‑comment period at the Jacksonville City Council meeting to press elected officials on three recurring concerns: opposition to a proposed billion‑dollar jail, anger over a morgue built in Brentwood near a school, and objections to ordinance 20‑25‑0147 — an anti‑immigrant ordinance attendees said should be repealed or will face litigation.

Speakers from multiple community groups said the proposed new jail — which they repeatedly described as a \"$1 billion\" project — would be built in or near predominantly Black neighborhoods and would divert funds from housing, mental‑health care, and other community services. \"Not a single real working‑class person I've spoken to wants a new jail,\" Taylor Powell said during the allotted comment period.

Several speakers condemned the construction of a county morgue in Brentwood that they said is sited \"32 feet\" from a school and within a residential area. Keanna Blaylock said the placement was \"disgusting\" and tied the siting to longer histories of redlining and disinvestment in Black neighborhoods.

Speakers also criticized ordinance 20‑25‑0147. Maria Garcia told the council that legal notices in members' inboxes had warned the ordinance is constitutionally vulnerable and that a federal court has blocked similar state laws; she said the city should repeal the measure rather than waste taxpayer funds on litigation. \"Repeal 0147 or face a lawsuit that you can't win and a movement that you can't stop,\" Garcia said.

Several speakers, including members of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, urged the council to adopt an immediate ceasefire resolution related to the Israel‑Gaza conflict. \"Cease fire now,\" said Sara Mahmood, summarizing the demand repeated by multiple speakers.

Public‑comment speakers included longtime residents, nonprofit representatives and activists. Speakers combined anecdotal reports, legal references and policy claims: some cited a federal court order blocking state immigration enforcement efforts; others cited city budget figures and alleged disparities in infrastructure placement. Many speakers urged the council to redirect public dollars toward housing, diversion programs and mental‑health services rather than toward additional jail capacity.

Council members did not vote on the proposed jail during the meeting; several members later said they had received requests for further information and that some decisions were at the administration or committee level rather than a final council vote that night. One speaker noted a $100,000 allocation for site surveys; others said the community had learned of plans from media reports before formal public notices.

Ending: The public‑comment period ended after more than an hour of testimony. Speakers urged the council to act quickly on repeal or review of ordinance 0147, to halt or re‑site the morgue, to open a public process before committing to major jail spending, and to pursue a ceasefire resolution. Several speakers said they would follow up with litigation or ballot‑based actions if they did not receive a policy response.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville, FL - City Council - Apr 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Scores of residents used the public‑comment period to oppose a proposed billion‑dollar jail, condemn a recently built morgue in Brentwood, and call for repeal of an anti‑immigrant ordinance and for a ceasefire resolution on Gaza.","taxTitle","Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida","taxId",2881,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":44,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602314,"Council approves restriction on open‑flame food trucks near fuel pumps after hours of debate",10,10000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3004682-824f095c72bb3cd94f0a3a822c708890&start=0&end=10","/articles/6602314/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Council-approves-restriction-on-openflame-food-trucks-near-fuel-pumps-after-hours-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602314-7b85c81c70ba582913560d2a392a4573/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196293&Signature=U0ZE6z7Mk-0-VfrYcXV3W9zn-rjx4h6pdfZV7HuT7GzDEiRhA~0mmPCYjBNqY4m3wZjq7LquQesuOTN4bfL3s6BjXEEsAuKnaCq~y4yQDrqXXMvzB830kBtJysXTRVZP5DyBf~H~VCuo3GBGWcUdBdF84jqWKpPlrznlPR0Q~Qq36byyU-KtGKxDZBTqEe1xpBaO4q4GIVaqcbANiocf3Ef2IVeom4y2311jJVWmo0Xl0gIfQjlml3qbluHkBBSG9H~pgWkbCF0KhNxWTa9X16oYIaBigsLqwWZ7zp27NqLoW8bSmZ3dx5l27L2kvD~Ehx~MltDUVn4sYsPVBvG-IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacksonville City Council on the meeting day approved ordinance 20‑25‑159, which prohibits the use of open‑flame cooking equipment by mobile food vendors within 300 feet of fuel dispensers and sets a $250‑per‑day civil penalty for violations.

Council members debated the measure for more than an hour, weighing a fire‑safety recommendation from the fire chief against appeals from food‑truck operators and small‑business advocates. Supporters said the rule is a preventive safety measure; opponents said it would harm entrepreneurship and local vendors who use gas‑station locations as regular points of business.

The ordinance passed after debate by recorded vote, 12‑7. A motion to postpone the measure failed earlier, 7‑12. Council members also adopted related amendments that defined the prohibited activity as \"open‑flame\" cooking and tied the safety distance to guidance cited by fire officials.

Chief Keith Powers of Jacksonville Fire Rescue told the council the restriction followed national emergency guidance. \"This is a low‑frequency, high‑risk type of event,\" Powers said, adding the department relied on the Emergency Response Guide and NFPA guidance in recommending an isolation distance. He told members the 300‑foot figure was drawn from the emergency response guide for liquefied petroleum gas incidents and related safety planning.

Councilmembers were split on whether the available incident data justified the rule. \"The problem does not exist,\" said Dr. Reggie Johnson, a council member who opposed the ordinance, arguing the city lacks robust local data showing recurring catastrophic incidents tied to food trucks. Other members urged a precautionary approach. \"Food trucks are welcome to gas stations, just not open‑flame food trucks,\" said Councilmember Arias, who supported the restriction.

During public comment, several food‑truck operators and small‑business advocates urged changes. Kathleen Pereira told the council, \"Show your support for small businesses and the free market by voting this bill down,\" while James Matchett, a local vendor and former fuel‑industry worker, cited NFPA and OSHA guidance that he said supported a shorter safety buffer than the 300‑foot figure but warned against eliminating food‑truck opportunities entirely.

The ordinance allows non‑open‑flame operations to remain at fuel‑station locations, and councilmembers discussed options such as increased inspections and additional resources for the fire marshal and consumer‑affairs staff to support safe operation of mobile vendors.

Votes at a glance (selected final actions recorded during the meeting):
- Ordinance 20‑25‑159 (food‑truck open‑flame buffer): approved (vote 12‑7). Key provisions: 300‑foot buffer from fuel pumps for open‑flame cooking; $250 daily civil penalty; exemptions for non‑open‑flame vendors in the ordinance text.
- Ordinance 20‑25‑102 (LUZ substitute): approved (19‑0).
- Ordinance 20‑25‑182 (community grants listed in agenda): approved (15‑0 with abstentions recorded for conflict of interest as noted on record).
- Multiple consent agenda bills and appointments were approved as recorded on the meeting docket.

What the ordinance does and what it does not do: the measure targets only mobile vendors that prepare food using open flames or certain pressurized combustion equipment at or within 300 feet of fuel dispensers; it does not ban food‑service trucks citywide, nor does it prohibit vendors from serving at other locations or using electric/induction or enclosed‑cooking methods. Enforcement will be civil; the adopted amendment sets the penalty at $250 per day while the violation continues.

Councilmembers and staff who supported more time to refine the policy said they will seek additional interdepartmental work to tighten inspection and enforcement capacity. Chief Powers and staff said implementing the rule would also require additional inspection and code‑enforcement resources to be effective. Opponents said the council should revisit the distance figure and consider targeted district‑level solutions so regular vendors are not driven out of longstanding parking points.

The ordinance text, emergency‑response references (Emergency Response Guidebook, NFPA), and recorded votes are part of the public record for this meeting.

Ending: Council members who voted for the measure said it was a narrow, safety‑focused change meant to avoid a rare but severe hazard; members who voted no said the city should instead invest in inspections and targeted education for vendors and rescue personnel before imposing a citywide buffer. The council closed the item and moved on to other business on the agenda.","The Jacksonville City Council voted to ban open‑flame food‑truck cooking within 300 feet of fuel pumps and set a $250‑per‑day penalty after public comment and a two‑hour floor debate about safety and small‑business impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents fill council chamber to oppose proposed $1 billion jail, Brentwood morgue and anti‑immigrant ordinance

Council approves restriction on open‑flame food trucks near fuel pumps after hours of debate