Committee splits UNF/ESports and JFRD funding: esports carved out, JFRD and UNF appropriations advanced; separate bills planned for esports and after-school aid

The finance committee on April 1 separated an esports appropriation from a larger rules amendment and advanced the remaining appropriations, including funding for Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department (JFRD) building projects and a University of North Florida item. Members agreed to file separate addendum legislation to handle the esports appropriation and a follow-up emergency measure for roughly $600,000 requested to support after-school and summer programming for students.

What the committee did

- Council Member Rory Diamond offered and won an amendment to remove the esports appropriation from the rules amendment; the committee approved the Diamond amendment and directed that esports be handled as a separate addendum item so members who oppose esports funding can vote on it independently. - Committee members approved a finance amendment to correct fiscal-year appropriation language, attach a revised Exhibit 1 excluding esports, and address other technical fixes to the rules amendment. - The final motion to move the bill as amended passed in committee with a recorded vote of 7 yays, 0 nays and 1 abstention.

Why it matters: The package included multiple discretionary appropriations that council members and staff characterized as recaptured reserve dollars. Removing esports let members split votes on separate priorities: public safety building needs for JFRD, a University-related appropriation (UNF/UF/UF Health items were discussed across the agenda), and potential after-school program funding for students who would otherwise lack summer programming.

Key committee commitments and next steps

- Esports appropriation: Carved out and to be filed as separate addendum legislation for Tuesday night's council meeting; committee president said he would place it on the addendum as an emergency if necessary. - After-school programming: Council Member Arias requested roughly $600,000 to serve approximately 860 students in summer programming. The committee agreed the quickest path was for Arias to file separate addendum emergency legislation using either recaptured dollars from the package or emergency reserves; staff advised that adding substantive new appropriations to the current bill would require re-referral and public notice, so separate addendum bills are the efficient path. - JFRD building and PPE/washroom work: Chief Keith Powers described two stations in dire need of renovation and a PPE washroom project in the package. Committee members signaled interest in advancing JFRD work and discussed potential funding sources, including emergency reserves for a washroom project if the council chooses that route on Tuesday.

Votes and procedural outcomes

- Diamond amendment (remove esports): passed on committee voice/hand vote; Diamond's goal was to allow members to register a separate vote on esports funding. - Finance amendment (technical corrections and Exhibit 1 revisions): passed. - Final vote on bill as amended (with esports removed and technical corrections): recorded as 7 yays, 0 nays, 1 abstention; the committee instructed staff to prepare separate in-and-out addendum bills for esports and for the $600,000 after-school request.

What the public record shows

The committee discussion produced two concrete procedural outcomes: esports funding will be voted separately and the committee plans to advance the remainder of the appropriations package. Committee members and staff agreed to draft and post the separate addendum measures for action at the next council meeting so funds for JFRD and UNF-related items can proceed without delaying possible targeted after-school support or a separate esports vote.

Caveats and next steps

- Staff (Office of General Counsel and auditors) warned that adding an after-school appropriation directly to the current bill would require re-referral to committee and public notice; the practical route is a separate addendum bill for Tuesday. - Committee members discussed using recaptured reserve dollars vs. emergency reserves for different pieces of the package and asked the administration and auditors to confirm the recommended funding source.

Votes at a glance (from transcript)

- Final committee vote on the amended package (with esports removed): 7 yays, 0 nays, 1 abstention.

No appropriation was blocked; esports will be considered separately on the addendum and an additional addendum item for after-school funding is to be prepared.