Rules committee confirms multiple council staff and cultural appointees; debates non‑resident nominee for DIA board

The City of Jacksonville Rules Committee on Feb. 18 confirmed several council staff and cultural appointments and debated a waiver for a Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) nominee who does not live in Duval County.

Among confirmed appointments, the committee approved Eric Preacher as division chief of the Fleet Management Division (bill 20 25 0 0 7 5), Colleen Hamsey as City Council chief of research (20 25 0 1 2 0, emergency), Jessica Danson as assistant chief of the Legislative Services Division (20 25 0 1 2 1, emergency), Alana Laxha to the Cultural Service Grants committee (20 25 0 1 2 4, emergency) and Sally Pettigrew to the Cultural Council Grants Review panel (20250125, emergency). Votes ranged from unanimous 6–0 ballots for council staff and cultural nominees to 5–0 roll calls for several ordinance and reorganization items later in the agenda.

Bill Delaney of the mayor’s office asked the committee to consider a waiver so a nominee identified as “Ms. Bailey,” who Delaney said is executive vice president of development at Rimrock and has substantial business interests on the Southbank, may serve on the DIA despite residing in Alachua County. Delaney said the nominee “ticks a lot of boxes,” that she “spends so much time in Duval” and that the administration felt her experience would be valuable to the DIA. The administration circulated the nominee’s resume and disclosed the need for a residency waiver before confirmation.

Council members pressed the administration and asked for context and fairness in applying residency expectations. Councilmember Chris Miller said members should consider whether nominees personally experience the impacts of DIA decisions; he argued that lived local experience can give board members a different perspective on quality‑of‑life impacts. Councilmember Gaddy and Councilmember Johnson both said they prefer Duval County residents for boards that make decisions directly affecting local taxpayers. Delaney told the committee the nominee is willing to meet with members and staff would arrange conversations before any final confirmation at a subsequent council meeting.

Committee votes on the confirmed nominees were as follows: Eric Preacher (6–0 approved, bill 20 25 0 0 7 5), Colleen Hamsey (6–0 approved, emergency bill 20 25 0 1 2 0), Jessica Danson (6–0 approved, emergency bill 20 25 0 1 2 1), Alana Laxha (6–0 approved, emergency bill 20 25 0 1 2 4), and Sally Pettigrew (6–0 approved, emergency bill referenced as 20250125). The committee also approved a number of ordinance and reorganization bills later in the agenda (see Votes at a glance for a list of bills and outcomes).

Councilmembers who spoke in the DIA discussion urged staff to provide information on how many other boards include non‑Duval residents and to ensure consistency in how residency requirements are applied. Delaney said staff will provide the requested information and that the nominee will make herself available to members.

No final confirmation vote for a DIA appointment and waiver was recorded during the Feb. 18 Rules Committee meeting; the committee discussed the waiver and scheduled further conversations between members and the nominee.