The Jacksonville Waterways Commission on Oct. 15 discussed a proposed resolution asking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to reconsider expansion of local speed restrictions near the Shad Creek Bridge. Commissioners and staff agreed to refine the resolution’s language, gather community input and return a draft for formal action at a future meeting.

Councilmember Mike Gay introduced the topic and said staff and partners had reviewed expanding the controlled zone “to the 1,800 foot mark” to reduce vessel wake impacts on adjacent homes and public safety. City counsel Shannon McGillis, who reviewed legal framing for the draft, told commissioners the body could approve the concept in substance while leaving room for language edits. “What you can do today is approve in, in substance, but not specifically, still allowing a little bit of room for some language tweaks,” she said.

Brian Burkett described mapping and permitting history. He said a red dashed 300-foot zone around the bridge was approved by local legislation in February 2019 and that the proposed resolution would ask FWC to reopen consideration of a larger zone and allow the city to submit an expanded application. “What we're asking for now is an expansion of that zone,” Burkett said, and added FWC previously declined a wider application for reasons that the city now wants to revisit.

Commission discussion focused on community input, navigation and safety tradeoffs and legal terminology. Commissioner Huber cautioned over the phrase “no wake,” noting a preferred statutory/technical term: “there's no such thing as no wake … The proper terminology is slow speed minimum wake zone, period,” she said. Commissioners asked staff to ensure adequate public outreach because FWC’s application process requires evidence of community input and may include public meetings.

Direction to staff: McGillis and city staff were asked to rework the resolution’s tone and language to emphasize a cooperative request to FWC and to produce a draft map and community-notice plan for the commission to review at a subsequent meeting. No formal vote on the resolution was taken on Oct. 15.

If approved in the future and accepted by FWC, an expanded slow-speed minimum wake zone would change navigational restrictions in the listed waterway and require a formal application and signage process.

The commission returned to subcommittee updates after the discussion.