At the Dec. 2 meeting of the Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee, two public commenters used their allotted time to press the committee on separate civic issues: local ethics and a proposal to explore selling JEA.

"Ethics is gone in Duval County," public commenter John J. Newney said as he introduced himself and focused his remarks on agenda item 120250833. Newney told the committee he had submitted two handouts for the record, questioned why the Office of General Counsel is not represented at certain citizen advisory and elder-affairs meetings, and described the parcel at issue as a 25.7-acre site at the southeast corner of Braddock Road and Lehi Turner Road intended for commercial development. He urged the council to consider recreation alongside commercial uses.

Carnell Oliver, who said he would speak to items 4–7 (second readings dealing with JEA), urged elected officials to "have a conversation about selling JEA." Oliver said selling the utility "could probably net 3 to $4,000,000,000 worth of funding" and suggested crafting state-level guardrails that would keep a local board in place and include a 10-year rate cap. He added that JEA does not pay property taxes and argued that if a constitutional amendment affects local revenue, officials should consider all options.

Neither public comment produced an immediate policy response or committee directive in the meeting transcript. The committee proceeded to the scheduled vote on agenda item 120250833 and adopted the amendment and bill that followed.