TEU committee approves commercial trash franchise, updates penalty rules and clears multiple road abandonments

The Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee approved a commercial solid-waste franchise, a rules amendment removing an outdated civil-penalty procedure and four ordinances closing and abandoning unimproved roads during its Aug. 19 meeting.

Committee members voted 4-0 to pass the measures after brief discussion and public hearings with no speakers on the closure items.

The commercial franchise (Bill 20250425) would allow an additional nonresidential hauling franchise in Jacksonville. Solid Waste Division staff told the committee the change “just increased competition,” noting the city currently has 14 franchise haulers and the bill would make 15. The division said the franchise is nonexclusive and “anyone who meets the application criteria and is approved by council can have a franchise.”

Edward Linsky of the Council Auditor’s Office explained a separate rules amendment (Bill 20250523) would remove “specific procedures related to assessment of civil penalties by the city,” saying the amendment deletes outdated references to a public-works treatment division that no longer exists. Linsky said the city will retain the right to assess penalties under the normal code-compliance provisions.

Christine Valier, Office of General Counsel, representing JEA, clarified the city’s enforcement authority is limited to Jacksonville’s jurisdiction. “The city of Jacksonville’s enforcement authority would be limited to the city,” she said, adding that JEA uses separate enforcement mechanisms in areas outside the city.

Several closing-and-abandonment ordinances (Bills 20250524, 20250525, 20250526 and 20250527) advanced after the committee opened and immediately closed required public hearings; in most cases no speakers were on the record. Council members reiterated that closings and abandonments follow state and local notice requirements and include subsequent posting and a 30-day opportunity for challenge before final implementation.

Votes at a glance

- Bill 20250425 (commercial solid-waste franchise): Passed 4-0; mover/second not specified in the committee record. - Bill 20250523 (rules amendment removing obsolete civil-penalty procedures): Passed 4-0; mover/second not specified. - Bill 20250524 (closing/abandonment): Passed 4-0; mover/second not specified. - Bill 20250525 (closing/abandonment): Passed 4-0; mover/second not specified. - Bill 20250526 (closing/abandonment): Passed 4-0; mover/second not specified. - Bill 20250527 (closing/abandonment): Passed 4-0; mover/second not specified.

Committee chair and members said they would follow regular posting and notice steps before a closing takes effect and that council action is typically the final local approval step for such abandonments.

The committee also noted other items on the agenda were deferred to later meetings and that staff would provide follow-up information when available.