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Council sets Committee of the Whole schedule to consider gateway legislation and 801 West Bay options
Summary
Jacksonville City Council assigned two gateway bills to the Committee of the Whole with meetings set for May 21 and June 4 and a public hearing planned for May 27, framing an upcoming choice between a land swap and an outright purchase of the 801 West Bay property.
The Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday assigned two gateway bills — listed in the agenda as 2025-319 and 2025-329 — to the Committee of the Whole and set a schedule of meetings and public hearings to decide how to proceed on the 801 West Bay property.
Council legislative staff told members the Committee of the Whole will meet May 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. to begin consideration of the two gateway ordinances and to provide presentations that will help the council choose a legislative pathway. The council will hold a public hearing on the legislation at its next regular meeting on May 27 at 5 p.m., and the Committee of the Whole will reconvene June 4 to take further action. Final council action on the gateway legislation is anticipated June 10, with floor amendments still allowed that evening.
The legislative services briefing said the May 21 meeting is intended to allow the Committee of the Whole to decide whether to pursue an RDA/DIA structure, a land swap or an outright purchase of the 801 West Bay site. Auditors will be available at the May 21 meeting for high-level questions, but staff cautioned they will not yet be able to answer detailed questions about RDA or direct-purchase mechanics or the redevelopment agency (RDA) and redevelopment infrastructure authority (DIA) provisions.
Council staff emphasized a quorum will be required at the May 21 meeting because that session will serve as the formal read, second and refer step for both pieces of legislation. If the Committee of the Whole reports any amendments, the council may consider those at the May 27 public hearing or refer them back to committee.
The scheduling establishes a two-step process: a Committee of the Whole technical and policy review; a council public hearing; and a second committee and final council action. Council members were also told that University of Florida-related legislation is expected on a one-cycle delay and may follow the gateway bills through the same calendar.
Why it matters: The gateway bills establish the legal and financial path the city will use for the 801 West Bay property, and the Committee of the Whole will decide whether the city pursues a land swap or a purchase. Those decisions carry implications for financing, redevelopment tools and the pace of any transaction.
Council staff said they would meet individually with members to answer follow-up questions before May 21.
