The Jacksonville City Council met informally at 4:31 p.m. for an agenda-review session during which members reviewed the status of items 1 through 30 and staff explained how amendments may be offered, filed and returned to committee before final action.

Council member Rory Diamond’s accessory dwelling unit proposal and several land-use items were among those flagged for potential action, while multiple items were continued or deferred to later meeting cycles. Mary, legislative services staff, told the committee, “You can offer an amendment today on the bill, but then defer it and not take final action and report out the bill from the committee.” That guidance framed how members said they planned to handle a heavily noticed land-use measure expected to draw public turnout.

Why it matters: The agenda meeting set the procedural roadmap ahead of the council’s formal hearings. Council members and staff used the session to identify which items will receive hearings, which will be deferred, and how proposed amendments will be processed — steps that determine whether measures reach a final vote at the next regular meeting.

During the session, the chair and vice chair walked through each agenda item number and its current marking. The meeting record shows three broad outcomes: items marked for action at the upcoming meeting, items continued or deferred, and items designated for amendment and possible re-referral. Council member Gay, addressing item 17’s public hearing, observed that he expected turnout: “Safe for just a whole lot of people coming out.”

Mary of legislative services explained two common paths for handling amendments: filing an amendment and deferring final action so the bill remains in committee with that amendment on file, or reporting the bill out of committee with a recommendation to amend and refer it back so it travels through the referral process and returns to committees. She added that if a committee files an amendment now and later makes additional changes, those would be recorded as additional amendments.

The agenda review listed the following item statuses as reported at the meeting: item 1 withdrawn; item 2 marked to amend and possibly substitute and re-refer (with a revised written description dated Dec. 17, 2024 noted); item 3 up for action; items 5, 6 and 7 continued; items 8 and 9 deferred; item 10 an action item; item 11 marked amend and move (conditions listed; applicant present); item 12 continued; item 13 marked to move but deferred (items 0787 and 0788 deferred); items 15 and 16 continued; item 17 continued but set for public hearing; item 18 action item; item 19 amended move; items 20–22 up for action; items 23–25 continued or marked for action as noted; item 26 up for action; item 27 identified as likely to draw substantial discussion (land-use item, LUZ); item 28 continued; item 29 (accessory dwelling unit changes, sponsored by Council member Rory Diamond) marked “open, close, amend and move”; and item 30 on second reading or deferred. The chair adjourned the agenda meeting until 5 p.m.

The committee discussed procedure for handling amendments to item 27, a land-use matter assigned to the council’s LUZ (land use and zoning) committee. Mary said that because item 27 is a LUZ item rather than a rules committee item, amendments offered now would return to LUZ on the next cycle, not to the rules committee, unless the bill is specifically routed elsewhere. That distinction matters for sponsors and members planning whether to press for immediate committee action or to preserve amendments for later committee consideration.

No formal votes were taken during the agenda meeting; members used the session to set the order and procedural posture of items for upcoming hearings. Several members said they expect to offer amendments when specific items come up for action; staff noted that amendments filed at this meeting can be kept on the committee agenda and reaffirmed at a later meeting if members choose not to take final action now.

The agenda manager also noted a logistical detail: a charter bus from District 2 was expected, signaling potential high public turnout for item 27.

Looking ahead, the council will hear the items as marked on the formal agenda; members and staff left open the possibility of amendments and further committee referrals before any final votes are scheduled.