Rules committee approves longtime city planner as director of Planning and Development

The Jacksonville Rules Committee voted to approve the mayoral appointment of Miss Perola as director of the city's Planning and Development Department on Aug. 4, recording a vote of 7 yeas and 0 nays.

Perola told the committee she has worked in the city's planning department for more than 27 years, beginning in historic preservation and later moving into community planning. “I have been with the planning department over 27 years,” she said, describing experience across historic preservation, land-use amendments and coordination with state agencies including the DEP and St. Johns Water Management District. “I am from Jacksonville,” she added, noting family ties to local public service.

Committee members praised Perola's institutional knowledge and endorsed her nomination. Council Member Randy White asked to be added as a cosponsor, saying he has known Perola “many years” and is “tickled that she's taken this position.” Council Member Ken Amaro said he was “impressed with her temperament” and said she is “the right person for this time.” Vice Chair Terrence Freeman and visiting Council Member Rockman Johnson also voiced support.

Perola told members she plans to pursue a zoning-code update, start by correcting outdated uses and verbiage, and implement recommendations from the city’s Vision Zero and Resilient Jacksonville efforts. She described starting with smaller, area-specific code updates and then expanding to larger reforms.

The committee opened the ballot and recorded the approval. Perola was invited to the full city council meeting next Tuesday for public recognition of the appointment.

What happens next: The appointment moves to the full council for final recognition at the next regular council meeting.