Council approves first reading to update emergency ordinance; removes mayor's explicit authority to command police

Jacksonville Beach's City Council approved on first reading an amendment to the city's civil-emergencies ordinance that clarifies procedures for declaring and extending a local state of emergency and removes language that explicitly granted the mayor authority to command the police. The hearing and first-reading approval took place Sept. 2; the ordinance was scheduled for second reading Sept. 15. Staff described two principal changes: (1) an explicit statement allowing a declared state of emergency to be extended in seven-day increments by the council at a regular or special meeting or by the mayor or mayor pro tem, or by the city manager (or designee), and (2) removal of language that purports to give the mayor direct authority to command the police force. In a staff presentation the speaker noted state law (chapter 252, Florida Statutes) already grants broad emergency-management authority and that charter language allows the mayor to govern in certain emergencies but does not explicitly grant command of police; the staff member recommended removal to avoid conflict with the city's comprehensive emergency-management plan. Council member Horn asked for clarification on how the council's five-day extension language in the charter interacts with the proposed seven-day increments and whether any special voting mechanics would be required during an emergency; staff said the sunshine-law rules may be relaxed during a state of emergency by state action but that the ordinance is designed to give multiple, redundant ways to extend a state of emergency so the city will not be left without authority if officials cannot assemble. No members of the public spoke on the ordinance. The council recorded unanimous support for first reading and scheduled the second reading for Sept. 15, 2025.