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Committee approves expanded downtown alcohol hours after debate over maps and security
Summary
The Neighborhoods committee approved ordinance 2026-0063 to extend alcohol-sales hours in three downtown cores after debate over mapped boundaries, security requirements and community input; the measure passed 6-1 and the sponsor pledged a six-month review with law enforcement and businesses.
The Jacksonville City Council Neighborhoods committee approved ordinance 2026-0063 on Feb. 17, 2026, extending the hours during which alcohol may be sold in defined downtown cores. The committee recorded six yays and one nay on the measure.
The ordinance, as amended, applies only to three defined areas of the downtown overlay — the north core, central core and the sports-and-entertainment district — and attaches a revised map and legend identifying those areas. Philip Peterson, speaking for the committee staff, said the amendment corrects wording errors, replaces the phrase 'north core church' with 'north core' and adds the legend to clarify boundaries.
Sponsor Council Member Aras said the change is intended to incentivize downtown investment without relying solely on grant…
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