Council workshop reviews East Side grants ordinance; inspector general urges stronger city oversight

Jacksonville — City staff and council members at a council workshop reviewed draft legislation that would create an East Side Community Grants Program to distribute funds set aside in a supplemental Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mary Stifopoulos of the Office of General Counsel outlined the draft ordinance, which would add a new Part 9 to Chapter 118 and establish the Historic East Side CBA Organization, Inc., as the independent 501(c)(3) entity that would administer competitive grants for four categories: affordable housing, workforce housing, economic development and mitigation of homelessness. "This whole part 9 establishes the East Side community grants program," Stifopoulos said, explaining the program framework and application process.

The draft specifies board composition and limits: a nine‑member board (four appointees by the council president, four by the mayor, all confirmed by council, plus one member selected by the Jaguars), staggered terms, a two‑consecutive‑term limit and an effort to ensure geographic representation across five designated East Side neighborhoods. Stifopoulos said the board's grant allocation decisions "are final and are not subject to further review by the city." She also described administrative rules including…