Jacksonville TEU committee approves $40 million JEA agreement, watercraft rules and three other measures

At a meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee, members approved four bills after amendments, including an amended interagency agreement with JEA that carries a $40,000,000 one-time budget addition.

The committee passed the amended JEA interagency agreement (file number 20250188), an amendment clarifying membership terms for a four-year appointment (20250410), an amendment and passage of watercraft regulations (20250432), and a closure bill that drew no public comment (20250439). Each measure passed on recorded votes of 5 yeas and 0 nays.

The JEA agreement was amended to clarify that an interagency agreement is being amended and restated and to correct scrivener's errors. The committee chair noted the agreement represents a $40 million, one-time addition to the city budget and cautioned members that the city will not receive the $40 million again next year, saying, "we're not getting this back next year." The committee recorded the vote after the amendment and passed the bill 5-0.

On the bill listed as 20250410, the amendment clarified that the relevant body is the Department of Public Works and established a Nov. 30 end date for a four-year term, consistent with current practice and staggered member rotations. The amendment passed and the bill was approved on a recorded 5-0 vote.

The committee amended and approved bill 20250432, described in the agenda as a watercraft regulation measure. The amendment attached section 36104 as an on-file document (standard practice for repealed sections) and corrected scrivener's errors. Councilmember Matt Carlucci and the committee chair were added as cosponsors during the meeting. Public commenter John Nooney spoke during the public-comment portion specifically about 20250432, saying the measure is "sweeping" and that it has been considered by the Waterways Committee and neighborhoods; his remarks were entered into the record and occurred before the committee voted on the amendment and bill. The committee approved the bill 5-0.

For bill 20250439 the committee opened a public hearing, reported that no speaker cards were submitted, closed the hearing and, after a motion and second, approved the bill on a recorded 5-0 vote.

Councilmember Carlucci used his time at the end of the meeting to thank JEA for its partnership with the city and residents, calling it "the continual partnership that the JEA has with our city," and to offer an observation about the city budget and millage: he said a quarter-mill change equals about $25 million in revenue and would change the monthly tax on a $200,000 home by about $3.13; a half-mill equals about $50 million and a monthly savings of roughly $6. He framed the comments as an effort to put budget tradeoffs in perspective for the record.

The chair noted the committee's agenda was light, with several items deferred at members' requests and one item scheduled for second reading. With no further business, the committee adjourned.