[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6503321,"mediaKeyId","5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce","parentId",5573890,"title","Votes at a glance: key council actions from the Aug. 12 Jacksonville City Council meeting","audioSeconds",3048,"startMs",404000,"endMs",3452000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce&start=404&end=3452","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce/thumbnail_404000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6503321/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-key-council-actions-from-the-Aug-12-Jacksonville-City-Council-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503321-ed08559cb128d4b81ba4bd06d06e1ca2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166167&Signature=Kx~1Kudlmv8anMle8syU4O3wMtFewuZ-UXBd50l-2nkcoIsNKfmTdVCKkOLOUC8ndMZPoCaBNUBFi7QJygrgeNY3dRvdVEK3-8BWzo94PeZDttvr~d1jIwJfvY6C4j-f90aEaO6nRgzOmMJDMKyAYb80CC0mF41T1VLY0VWyKXCos-zTPWD6U--Soym5Kq-NqjUKcmm1s8gTgAqJbFVRehdfae4nIssy6~cma3Vd9jb7Fe8fogzt9wpBFBHiNE0HahqGwp~zui6QXx263s9Z7VLFqoSYhRMOsprsS2mtgMbgUt6O8wecy1mhTVmMe1OAWd3m6xbABWluqxiYst5lbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-08-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Jacksonville City Council recorded the following formal outcomes during its Aug. 12 session. This list includes votes and recorded outcomes taken during the meeting; it does not list items continued to future meetings unless noted.

- 2025-0247 — Approved (17 yeas, 0 nays)
- 2025-0416 — Approved (17 yeas, 0 nays)
- 2025-0417 — Approved (17 yeas, 0 nays)
- 2025-0418 — Approved (17 yeas, 0 nays)
- 2025-0419 — Postponed to 08/26/2025 (18 yeas, 0 nays on postponement)
- 2025-0460 — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0461 — Approved (18 yeas, 0 nays)
- Consent agenda (multiple items listed on consent) — Approved (18 yeas, 0 nays) with items 476, 545, 563 pulled for separate consideration
- 2025-0476 (appointment) — Approved (18 yeas, 0 nays)
- 2025-0545 (recognition/resolution) — Approved (18 yeas, 0 nays)
- 2025-0563 (appointments for commanding officers) — Approved (18 yeas, 0 nays)
- 2025-0531 (economic development item, as amended) — Approved (17 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0475 (ethics opinion floor amendment as amended) — Approved (12 yeas, 6 nays)
- 2025-0189 (park renaming to Eartha M. M. White Historical Oakland Park) — Approved (15 yeas, 3 nays)
- 2025-0530 (emergency appropriation/amendment) — Approved as an emergency (17 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0535 (ordnance/substitute; stadium documents technical correction) — Approved as an emergency (17 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0537 (group health plan consultant appropriation) — Approved as an emergency (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0456 (Question Center repairs appropriation $1,500,000) — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0463 — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0465 — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0467 — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0468 — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0469 — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)
- 2025-0471 — Approved (18 yays, 0 nays)

Many additional bills listed for second reading or public hearing were continued, closed, or moved to committees as recorded during the meeting. This list highlights items where the council recorded a final or immediate outcome on Aug. 12.

If a specific vote tally or further details are required for any item above (movers, seconds, amendments text, or funding sources), staff minutes and the official roll call record should be consulted; this summary reports the votes as recorded on Aug. 12 in the council chamber.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville, FL - City Council","oneSentenceSummary","A quick reference list of ordinances, resolutions and actions recorded at the Aug. 12 council meeting, including vote tallies and immediate outcomes.","taxTitle","Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida","taxId",2881,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6503326,"Duval residents urge city action to repair and maintain George Crady Bridge state park",200,5184000,5384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce&start=5184&end=5384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce/thumbnail_5184000.jpg","/articles/6503326/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Duval-residents-urge-city-action-to-repair-and-maintain-George-Crady-Bridge-state-park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503326-44bbadd8f06b09b3af7a7050e3c7e063/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166167&Signature=Bj1tflkp8Rwwjok-AeHHz5mA3HZ78v81wyLpJcH~Nuvd8okHtYnj8XJPPwZF6nBDFRf-xzWeYrKTmMDuRFBPJKPgqtPP6JF~w-CNbQWLARw22EqqqUC3UubwJBrGYjmerxaL6a-I0yRK6VjziUO9BArwzNGi3pZygiId0YNgVsUz-s9hl8xtNlpnE6JOsFThxQhY9rEz8hT14cGmhnTIIclIiRsA7wRknMW5jORh~XxwrkJ~915igz2eGbKH-tU5fRW1zhQ4zWQurD8tGObVzjzwG9q4mYwmZlSY-wJM~MHsev1giIpE4o4b~jPBHll6XReKcw2323OtXsnyUHmnPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Duval County residents used the Aug. 12 Jacksonville City Council public-comment period to urge the council to intervene on maintenance and access issues at the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park.

Speakers from the Brentwood and Southside communities described long-running problems on the Duval County side of the park: they said picnic tables were removed, potable water and cleaning stations were cut off, maintenance lapsed despite continued local park fees, and that the Nassau County side had received recent improvements while Duval residents were left without comparable upkeep. Speakers asked the city to explain where annual maintenance funds — referenced in testimony as $35,000 per year — had been spent.

\"We are still paying $35,000 per year for no maintenance and upkeep of a closed bridge,\" said Beatrice Bell. Johnny Turner said the bridge had been a family fishing resource for decades and asked why promised repairs had not occurred. James Bell and others said they had raised concerns with state agencies and county partners but sought more direct action from city officials.

Council member Mike Gay invited several speakers to the Green Room after their remarks to discuss next steps. Gay also signaled his office would follow up with residents about funding, jurisdictional responsibilities, and potential restoration plans. Several speakers asked the council to seek combined funding from Duval and Nassau counties for a full restoration; one asked the body to consider an estimated number cited by residents of roughly $60 million to fully restore the park and its facilities.

No council votes were taken on the floor related to the park at the Aug. 12 meeting; council staff and members recommended follow-up meetings with the district office and parks staff to determine what funds exist and which agencies have maintenance responsibility.

Residents urged transparency about capital and maintenance dollars associated with the bridge and requested the council's assistance in convening state and county partners to identify funding and a timeline for repairs. Council staff said they would coordinate a follow-up meeting and asked residents to join representatives in the Green Room to provide specific documents and address next steps.","Multiple residents at public comment accused state and county partners of neglecting Duval County side of George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park and asked the city to secure funds and repairs; Council member Mike Gay offered to meet with residents in the Green Room.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6503330,"Council approves emergency contract to study $23 million city health-plan shortfall",491,8998000,9489000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce&start=8998&end=9489","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce/thumbnail_8998000.jpg","/articles/6503330/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Council-approves-emergency-contract-to-study-23-million-city-health-plan-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503330-da5fbce11b1a88be91bf0e212b674f66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166167&Signature=L70G3CIHWw9sJNHqsLdESltFmPtKMFrNHIxT-fxiVQfdfNibwwFNELkESNa3DskUX5ZjDGadFEpuyGXwmWU0OxH6xpTcRcPRs4Jbr5bLeRzRL7EPUbR5UGqCUycMattzkX2v~5parTkwugVj9aCKU8Tt8CWz1NV-GHznuXR80dcv0EhM~bsLG9BK2GOeb8UQ8nUUyZwuAI0Ha5U11b7Nds7Rcu7p7WDDjPpgggMFNfQilpMC4NxLhuXC91QaqAztIkXGeJJ3qfEDIHLyPZslwjC1NMVObJ279f3b5hoPP4StbS7hUUxpCmJOuhI3f-CFEcjYgPFrG0HfC7bDChx2eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacksonville City Council on Aug. 12 unanimously approved an emergency appropriation to hire the Bailey Group to study the city's self-insured employee health plan after officials reported a growing shortfall in the fund.

Council member Bill Salem, who serves as the council's liaison to the group health committee, explained the need on the council floor: the city currently faces an approximately $23 million shortfall between premiums collected and claims paid for the city's self-insured plan, and the plan reserve is about $4 million in the red. Salem said the city has not significantly updated plan design in years and that continued inaction would likely force premium increases for employees.

The contract with the Bailey Group is a one-year engagement that will begin Oct. 1; the consultant will analyze plan structure and recommend changes. Salem said the goal is to produce recommendations that can be considered for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget and to avoid raising premiums if plan design improvements can close the gap.

Council member Amaro asked about timing and whether the consultant's work would conclude before the next open enrollment; Salem said the contract is designed to produce findings in 2025 with recommendations that could inform the next budget cycle and potential enrollment changes. The emergency appropriation passed 18-0.

The ordinance amends the budget to appropriate funds for the consultant engagement and directs administrative staff to begin the contract process. The council said it will hold further hearings in the DOGE committee this fall to review consultant findings and possible administrative plan changes.

Council members emphasized that the city must act quickly to address the structural shortfall in the employee health fund, while preserving bargaining and statutory limits on benefit changes and respecting collective-bargaining processes for covered groups.","The council authorized an emergency contract with a consultant to analyze the city's self-insured group health plan after officials reported a $23 million shortfall and a negative reserve. The measure passed unanimously.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6503333,"Council renames Oakland park for Eartha M. M. White after amendment adding neighborhood name",2122,9428000,11550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce&start=9428&end=11550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce/thumbnail_9428000.jpg","/articles/6503333/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Council-renames-Oakland-park-for-Eartha-M-M-White-after-amendment-adding-neighborhood-name","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503333-ab4a6415994e268cadf94485a9da43a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166167&Signature=afirOYXQfjUP5tSS6yFUilnOGVcKGOvKTpV~uwHFZl~3d4ZcqHyLqrBNuC21X1nvH3lUq07zF~GMU7svtzplJNFw3Vy3pDlWlNs2AT6py0mfu6E4j50sYBKaZQ2~wlutL8c5mCvr2epA7UnuJXD2eCDvkoegfAbAHAYYt2uhxW5UI~A1FRDkqZK6TSQ1de6ILEznIXyad89sQn65BRfMX9FXSVqOM~AHNQvWlIdRJdKA9FufUaandW6UHmsGsjuI3Q060g4M~sHsQKqU3y6JZImnHzA6TjOLPyc1fda-7iqHOOefb5tjxHNuaQKThRNK9aamqmmd0Wmdcp8QgFRzqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacksonville City Council on Aug. 12 approved an ordinance to rename Oakland Park to honor Eartha M. M. White, adding the neighborhood identifier by floor amendment after several council members and district residents raised concerns about changing the familiar local name.

Council President Kevin Carlucci initially moved the ordinance to rename the park for Eartha M. M. White, a longtime community philanthropist associated with the Clara White Mission. Council member Jimmy Peluso — whose district includes the park — told colleagues he planned to withdraw the bill after finding deep opposition in the neighborhood and asked that the measure be postponed to permit more community discussion.

Colleagues urged a compromise. Council member Hector Romero proposed and the council adopted a floor amendment to include \"Oakland\" in the formal park name; staff drafted the precise language before the final vote. The amended name was read into the record as the Eartha M. M. White Historical Oakland Park.

Peluso had told council members that several residents and neighborhood leaders objected to losing the historic \"Oakland\" identifier and asked that the council not proceed without stronger local consensus. Supporters of the renaming emphasized Eartha White's civic contributions; opponents argued the neighborhood's name and identity should not be overridden without clearer community backing.

The amended ordinance passed 15-3. The council president and sponsor said the change aims to honor Eartha White while preserving neighborhood identity; Peluso said he would continue community outreach on the question and explore alternatives such as signage or plaques that acknowledge both the neighborhood and White's legacy.

The ordinance takes effect per the city's standard timeline for renaming public spaces and directs city staff to update park signage and records to reflect the new name. Council members said staff will work with the district office on implementation and community communications.

Community members and neighborhood leaders who spoke at the public-comment period told council they were surprised by the timing and said they wanted more meetings and notice before a final change. The sponsor and the district council member agreed to additional outreach to document neighborhood preference for signage and for any companion steps.","After debate and community objections, the council approved renaming a public park to include both the historical honoree and the neighborhood name, adopting the Eartha M. M. White Historical Oakland Park name.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6503338,"Council votes to seek outside ethics opinion after dispute over general counsel hiring",2149,1301000,3450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce&start=1301&end=3450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573890-8b2c890349c6e83c3d91d5c10cd0f0ce/thumbnail_1301000.jpg","/articles/6503338/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Council-votes-to-seek-outside-ethics-opinion-after-dispute-over-general-counsel-hiring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503338-1932d57391c91414778da4e558b037e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166167&Signature=elJiULi~y27vr61fyIU6y0yoMdBSapSmi5PzGrYqpqG0B2InUo26uUD-HT2risKJwwi2hnrjN3NBSkrfOUsQrV6~FwtowlRZly-DdpFn4EqKh9PX~4rlpVmIo0HUtr4kUEYj8~GXjD4w3KvZ0PWuNjz-rDh0phJD9zayRSHWrAv5m-000BHDtizq2ppMY96Hm99SoWge6zzALadtkFWeuJiREEe75yt6I~r8v78O1lopPCNMrgQ4KaYh5dNXKZk-~rnmfvwbzUQ2T8yVxgVdzC4O76qt7L-4K69nW9sq~HrAcESO9btN4Su14~6HLlsgAKAGj36J5MA6qPBwWgbBGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacksonville City Council on Aug. 12 approved an amended resolution directing the city's general counsel to engage outside attorney Jason Gabriel of Burr & Forman to prepare a legal memorandum and analysis to be submitted to the Florida Commission on Ethics. The action passed 12-6 after more than two hours of debate and repeated questions about conflicts and the proper process for obtaining an independent opinion.

Council member Mike Gay introduced the floor amendment that substitutes the office of general counsel's original plan — to prepare the memorandum in-house or use a currently engaged contract attorney — with instructions to retain Gabriel at a reasonable rate and have the memo reviewed by the council president before filing with the state ethics commission. \"I felt it was better that we just had a clean separate, perspective on this Administration,\" Gay said during the rules-floor debate.

The amendment and its sponsor drew sustained criticism from several council members who said the change undercuts the city's customary practices and risks second-guessing the general counsel's authority. Council member Matt Carlucci warned the action was an inappropriate intrusion on the general counsel's discretion and described the move as \"throw[ing] a wrench in his works.\" Others, including Council member Jason Freeman and several speakers who cited concerns about appearances of impropriety, said the council needed a fully independent review.

City staff described the rationale the general counsel offered to the rules committee for seeking outside counsel: \"The rationale that was presented in the committee meeting was essentially because the issue dealt with mister Fackler directly. He felt it was important to hire somebody, to so that there wasn't appearance of impropriety in his decision or in a decision that came out of our office that then was forwarded to Tallahassee,\" said Mary (staff counsel) at the dais. The floor amendment instead names Gabriel by role and firm and requires the memo be submitted to the council president before it goes to the state commission.

Jason Gabriel, who was present in the chamber, said his firm had a pending, unrelated land-use matter involving the city but told council, \"To answer your question, emphatically, there is no conflict.\" The amended resolution passed on the final ballot, 12 yeas, 6 nays.

Council members asked procedural and budget questions about who would pay for the work. Council member Amaro asked about the budget and whether a cap would be set for the \"reasonable rate\" language; staff said work would be paid from the office of general counsel's account used to engage outside counsel, and the phrase \"reasonable rate\" was intended to let general counsel negotiate an appropriate hourly fee for the engagement.

The resolution, as amended, directs the general counsel to secure the legal memorandum from Gabriel, submit it for review and approval by the council president, and then forward it to the Florida Commission on Ethics. The council did not direct the content of the memorandum beyond the referral to outside counsel. Supporters said the change ensured a clean, outside perspective; opponents said it undermined the general counsel's normal authority.

The vote followed more than two hours of floor debate and public commentary about the city's ethics processes, the general counsel's independence, and the appearance of conflicts in high-profile contracts. The council adopted the amended resolution and will forward the outside counsel memorandum, once prepared and reviewed by the council president, to the state ethics agency for an advisory opinion.

Council actions related to the memorandum and its submission are administrative: the council approved the amended resolution and did not itself issue any discipline, direct hiring or firing, or make findings about wrongdoing. The state Commission on Ethics will be asked for an advisory opinion based on the submitted materials.

What happens next: the general counsel will negotiate and retain the outside lawyer named in the amendment, the memorandum will be prepared and reviewed by the council president per the amendment's terms, and then the council president will decide whether to forward it to the Florida Commission on Ethics for an advisory opinion. The resolution does not set a dollar cap; staff said fees would be paid from the OGC outside-counsel account and negotiated under \"reasonable rate\" language in the amendment.","Jacksonville City Council approved a resolution requiring outside counsel be hired to prepare a legal memorandum for submission to the Florida Commission on Ethics, after a lengthy debate over whether the city's general counsel's hiring practices presented a conflict of interest.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key council actions from the Aug. 12 Jacksonville City Council meeting

Duval residents urge city action to repair and maintain George Crady Bridge state park

Council approves emergency contract to study $23 million city health-plan shortfall

Council renames Oakland park for Eartha M. M. White after amendment adding neighborhood name

Council votes to seek outside ethics opinion after dispute over general counsel hiring