Waterways commission approves multiple bills: derelict-vessel rules, land-use transmittal, environmental assessment funding, resiliency match and submerged-land

The Jacksonville Waterways Commission on June 12 approved a set of bills and took related votes that the commission said will change vessel enforcement procedures, transmit a large-scale land‑use amendment to the state, fund an environmental assessment of two impaired tributaries, authorize a federal-resiliency grant match, and permit the city to seek a submerged‑land lease for a commercial docking facility.

Highlights

- Derelict/abandoned-vessel ordinance (referred to in the meeting packet as 20250432): The commission approved an ordinance that, according to the presenter, “encodes procedures” covering derelict vessels and a new classification for abandoned vessels, establishes clearer notice and citation timelines, and expands the city’s remediation authorities. The bill was moved and approved by voice vote during the meeting; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

- Large-scale land-use transmittal (ordinance 20 25 3 0 7; land-use case L5989-24A): Planning staff presented a transmittal ordinance for about 190.29 acres along Yellowwater Road that proposes changing agricultural and rural-residential land to low-density residential. The application contains roughly 50.6 acres of wetlands; staff said development would require extension of sanitary sewer lines (about 4,400 feet from Normandy Boulevard) and that, if sewer is provided, buildout could allow up to roughly 950 single-family units — the current rural/agricultural yield was estimated at about 94 units. The commission approved transmittal by a recorded voice vote of 9–1.

- Environmental Quality Assessment funding for the Ribault River and Moncrief Creek (recorded as 20250404): The commission approved allocating $106,000 from the Environmental Protection Trust Fund to the St. Johns Riverkeeper to conduct a data-driven environmental assessment of legacy and ongoing pollution sources in the Ribault River and Moncrief Creek. The presenter said the project will collect baseline data over approximately two years and that the technical team will include Riverkeeper science staff and university partners.

- Resiliency fund match (referred to as 20250374): The commission approved a measure the presenter described as a federal grant that requires a local match; Councilman Peluso described it as a $100,000 federal award with a $100,000 match from the Office of Resiliency’s fund. The commission approved the appropriation.

- Submerged‑land lease for Palms Fish Camp (20250409): The commission approved proceeding with a submerged‑land lease that allows the city to enter a lease with the state and include Palms Fish Camp as a tenant for a 21‑slip commercial docking facility, an existing boat ramp, a canoe/kayak launch and one additional boat ramp for a 10‑year term. The annual lease fee is prescribed by the Florida Administrative Code at $5,445.91; the presenter said Parks currently collects roughly $20,000 annually in rent from Palms Fish Camp. One commissioner declared a conflict and stepped away from the vote.

What the votes mean

Commissioners said the derelict‑vessel ordinance creates clearer enforcement steps and timelines that staff will use to pursue remediation and citations. The large‑scale land‑use transmittal cleared the commission to transmit the application to state review; council‑level committee and public‑hearing dates were listed by staff. The environmental assessment allocation funds baseline sampling and analysis intended to guide later remediation or public‑health work in the Ribault/Moncrief watersheds. The submerged‑land lease authorizes the city to pursue the state lease necessary for the Palms Fish Camp docking facility; a commissioner abstained from that vote due to a declared ownership conflict.

Votes and actions (as recorded in the meeting transcript)

- 20250432 — Derelict/abandoned-vessel ordinance. Action: Approved (voice). Motion text: not fully read in transcript. Mover/second: not specified. Outcome: approved. Notes: Presenter said the bill adds procedures, clearer notice/citation timelines and expands remediation authority. Referenced by: Ms. McGillis presentation.

- 20 25 3 0 7 (L5989-24A) — Large-scale land-use transmittal for Yellowwater Road properties (about 190.29 acres). Action: Approved (voice; recorded tally given). Vote tally: 9 yes, 1 no. Motion/mover: not specified in transcript. Notes: Wetlands about 50.6 acres; mitigation bank nearby; sewer extension ~4,400 ft required for low-density residential buildout.

- 20250404 — Environmental Protection Trust Fund allocation ($106,000) to St. Johns Riverkeeper for Ribault River and Moncrief Creek environmental assessment. Action: Approved (voice). Motion/mover: not specified in transcript. Notes: Presenter stated two‑year data collection; team includes Riverkeeper science staff and JU professors.

- 20250374 — Office of Resiliency federal grant match. Action: Approved (voice). Motion/mover: not specified in transcript. Notes: Presenter and councilmember discussion described this as a $100,000 federal award with a $100,000 city match from the resiliency fund.

- 20250409 — Submerged land lease (Palms Fish Camp). Action: Approved (voice). Motion/mover: not specified in transcript. Tally: one commissioner stepped away/abstained due to ownership conflict; no full roll-call recorded. Details: 10‑year term; annual state fee $5,445.91 per Florida Administrative Code; Parks collects ~ $20,000 rent from tenant.

Several of the approvals were moved and approved by voice vote; the transcript records only the one 9–1 roll‑call for the land‑use transmittal.

Speakers who presented or explained bills at the meeting included Ms. McGillis (bill presenter), Ed Lukakovic (planning staff), Cindy Trimmer (applicant representative), Dr. Lucy Sonnenberg (presenting the Riverkeeper funding item), Renee Hunter (Public Works Real Estate) and Parks staff who answered lease questions.

What remains next

The land‑use transmittal will, if approved by city council, be transmitted to the state for review and then return to the city for adoption hearings if the state has no objection. The environmental assessment will proceed to contract and sampling if grant paperwork and scope are finalized. The city will pursue the submerged‑land lease process with the state per statute and the Florida Administrative Code.

No litigation or rule changes were announced at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to continue implementing the approved measures and flagged follow-up items for future meetings.