[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6356390,"mediaKeyId","2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6","parentId",2216616,"title","Council auditors, members question protobox hologram purchase and use of building‑inspection funds at JIA","audioSeconds",412,"startMs",420000,"endMs",832000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6&start=420&end=832","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6/thumbnail_420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6356390/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Council-auditors-members-question-protobox-hologram-purchase-and-use-of-buildinginspection-funds-at-JIA","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356390-1c32d2e96d8e871c5b55d10afade6964/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205293&Signature=mdTVtPNR3MDwQVXgMZV--VviDNqekjAAWQHzqfxGJAjwKV9SZJy2T~1~r9L2Bv4y14MOwMz5lQLMtf2RfUUYsQS96LngOLaRGuqVIHKqIUQLmqupFrkfEMnm6dK~GUdgEGRpjjFqVTuKbE1ytlduohpu8z9gYsTXj~JdichbTsjWY8mfR4f-2033OrrryS77CsDHsWqgyLm7mcSPO-yDyr7wPBhrSev-p15S56VacIbkbnuSIMYlRuM7cdHcJLceguXnA1zq2G07Xh3hLevDKSPp0QABsOuHP-ESSVUKW41nMgPYbGmmO~adoqYhYXJ4dDlYw~8xfipLLGzU73vpIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Council auditors and multiple city council members on Jan. 7 questioned the administration about purchase orders tied to a protobox hologram placed at Jacksonville International Airport and whether building inspection funds could lawfully pay for the device.

The council auditor’s office told the Finance Committee it had identified purchase orders totaling “about $75,000” tied to a vendor listed as “Univision Technologies,” and that the auditor’s office had asked the administration on Dec. 19 for clarification about what fund would pay the invoices and whether that use would comply with state law. “We sent a series of questions. We're still waiting to get answers,” Kim Taylor, Council Auditor, said. Taylor said the auditors did not see evidence payments had been made yet and that they were waiting for confirmation of the final funding source.

Mike Weinstein, chief of staff for the mayor, described the protobox as part of a multi‑year effort called JAX EPICS to improve permitting and public education on the permitting process. Weinstein said the protobox purchase quoted at about $30,000 covered the physical unit, with additional costs for installation, software, warranty and production bringing the protobox‑related spend to roughly $65,000–$68,000. He also said separate purchase orders appeared for “$7,560 for the hologram avatar creation and studio shoot” and “$1,600 for the wrap.”

Weinstein said the protobox was intended as a public‑education and training tool tied to the in‑house JAX EPICS permitting system and described the airport placement as an early experiment: “The protobox that was put in the airport, was really the first example of this effort.”

Council Members pressed both the auditor and Weinstein on appearance and use. Council Member Rory Diamond asked why the device had been used as an airport greeting rather than for permitting training inside the building inspection division. “A greeting to people visiting Jacksonville does not … fall under any of those categories,” Diamond said. He added concerns about the optics of the device being displayed at the airport while inspection funds were intended for permitting, inspections, training and code enforcement.

Council Member Nick Howland said he did not “buy the argument” that a multi‑language airport kiosk was a trial for a permitting solution and suggested that, if that is the intent, the administration should “recover it from the airport and immediately move it over, and use it as intended.”

Taylor told members that state statute places limits on how building inspection fees may be spent and that the auditor’s office raised the question to ensure the protobox and related costs would comply with those statutory restrictions. The auditor’s office also noted the building inspection fund has a substantial reserve—Taylor cited roughly $24 million in the fund—and that, based on unaudited numbers, the fund “may breach” the statutory cap that limits fund balances relative to operating budget size.

Weinstein said the city had previously moved money from inspection fees to IT for the broader JAX EPICS effort and described the airport protobox as part of a larger, multi‑year investment in permitting modernization. “This was a first attempt at what they have all along anticipated — protoboxes being used for education and training,” Weinstein said.

Committee members requested that the auditors and administration provide the outstanding records and clarify (1) whether purchase orders will be paid from building inspection funds, (2) the full invoiced amounts and purchase‑order trail, and (3) the legal basis for using that fund for the protobox if payments are posted. The auditor offered to forward its questions to the chair at the meeting’s end.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the protobox; the item remained under inquiry by the auditor’s office and the administration at the meeting’s close.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville Finance Committee Meeting Jan 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council auditors and multiple council members pressed the administration about roughly $65,000–$75,000 in purchase orders for a protobox hologram placed at Jacksonville International Airport and whether building‑inspection funds can be used to pay for it.","taxTitle","Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida","taxId",2881,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6356374,"Votes at a glance: Finance Committee approvals, Jan. 7",2109,4976000,7085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6&start=4976&end=7085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6/thumbnail_4976000.jpg","/articles/6356374/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Finance-Committee-approvals-Jan-7","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356374-5a8ae2f51c9466c2d6870e2c65550381/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205293&Signature=Z6x-SPwyLVA0J67vh2NzA8XRCx1u21x63ZS3zmT0iO1umGPsy31i9f-UzLzaLSx~adjwQrTU3O29k9LQLmFengQ9QmoUztTplBaN5oYr4MqIFTBx8ZnuCIJr-lE8o72~ITGqpcb22iCPMNWVUudrAuvusV3StCsTm53JeGlimoCJl-i8LjPz2eGJ0ySDozIJHwSbC2pzYAhXYBQqG9QLfPzff336jKLA85DApDAILO91AGLAqCfgttGFkUfHxPZAiA7NfJtLuvi5O1PctilgLNTByc3xpyDEu81EAJq~-ZsqdlwuENAXCxkKaGMaLbsUCXXFuAPRqap7QFHAv14feA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee recorded votes on multiple agenda items during its Jan. 7 meeting. Below are the items taken up during the session with the committee’s action and the recorded tallies where provided.

- Item 4 — 2024‑927 (amendment and bill as amended): Amendment adopted; bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 5 — 2024‑928 (amendment and bill as amended): Amendment adopted; bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 6 — 2024‑929: Motion and second; bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 7 — 2024‑931: Bill approved on roll call, 6 yeas, 0 nays (recording noted six votes available at the time of the roll call).
- Item 8 — 2024‑932: Bill approved on roll call, 6 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 9 — 2024‑933: Bill approved on roll call, 6 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 10 — 2024‑934 (rules amendment moved): Rules amendment adopted; full bill as amended approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 11 — 2024‑936: Bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 12 — 2024‑938: Bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 13 — 2024‑939: Bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays. Multiple council members asked to be added as cosponsors during discussion.
- Item 14 — 2024‑941: Bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 15 — 2024‑943: Bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 17 — 2024‑945 (amendment and bill as amended): Amendment adopted; bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 18 — 2024‑948: Bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 19 — 2024‑949 (amendment and bill as amended): Amendment adopted; bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.
- Item 20 — 2024‑951 (amendment and bill as amended): Amendment adopted; bill approved on roll call, 7 yeas, 0 nays.

Several other items listed on the agenda were deferred (items 1, 2, 3, 16 and 21) or noted as on second reading (items 22–30 and 31). Where the committee provided an explicit roll‑call tally, it is listed above; if no roll call was recorded on the transcript the item is described as approved after the committee motion and second.

This summary is drawn from committee roll‑call statements and the meeting transcript. For legislative specifics (full bill text, final ordinance/resolution numbers or subsequent council action), refer to the council clerk’s docket and the official minutes.","The Finance Committee took recorded action on a series of agenda bills; the article lists each item number, bill identifier and the committee outcome (tally where recorded).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6356379,"Auditors to restructure; city to issue RFP for next external auditor with selection committee, cone‑of‑silence rules",218,3886000,4104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6&start=3886&end=4104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6/thumbnail_3886000.jpg","/articles/6356379/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Auditors-to-restructure-city-to-issue-RFP-for-next-external-auditor-with-selection-committee-coneofsilence-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356379-f944c9b7bb2af718c3d2e31fb5168064/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205293&Signature=IBx3-Caxz9O3XBbdRnQ-BzCx~UUd3Mg8oXbT9G3qI9SVt-bwVMxzR88TgPkQJzd8~WKdaJ3kAzUOv118QzO~WcbQG0ScFLxVrPxRQYTGH9etgiNPNXs5jEpT58s5Rrjh00fQ2a3MNy3Acujv78h7lEV2bGe57e6gUehvo9LDbPfeOQSfhwLwz-6vg7JAsdAbOGFJimYt6BCM3o4gK4Cdac-tYVfP17SDQv1tVFL1lJRt8W65QncYSdjQ2GsH7QT88L3udVjuxOR9t0O7RI3svLS92YN51izmNeCHXTp7HuqxgKYF4HUBAlzF3dU8sB1-93ssmadtl3pQOWjmJUm0mA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council auditors briefed the Finance Committee on Jan. 7 about two matters concerning the city’s external auditor.

First, the firm currently engaged for the city audit, Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CR&I), is restructuring and will separate its non‑attestation services into a new entity called CRI Advisors LLC. Under the city’s existing contract terms, any restructuring requires council review and the change will be the subject of forthcoming legislation drafted by the Office of General Counsel.

Second, the auditor’s office said the three‑year engagement with Carr, Riggs & Ingram is ending and the city plans to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for auditors to begin work for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Kim Taylor, Council Auditor, said the RFP would be advertised for 21 days once issued, that staff had reached out to about 15–20 potential firms including the “big four,” and that the audit selection committee will score proposals in the city’s procurement system.

Taylor and council staff emphasized that council members participating on the auditor selection committee will be under a cone of silence from the time the RFP is issued until scoring and a recommendation are finalized. The auditor’s office anticipated issuing the RFP by the end of the week or the following week and expected scoring and a recommendation in the February timeframe, with a July 1 start date for the new contract if a change is made.

No formal procurement decision was made at the meeting; the committee was notified of the schedule and procedures and asked council members to signal if they wished to be trained and serve on the selection committee.","Finance Committee heard that Carr, Riggs & Ingram is restructuring nonattestation services into a separate CRI Advisors LLC and that the city will issue an RFP for external audit services; council members named to the audit selection committee will be under a cone of silence during procurement.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6356384,"Finance Committee moves to file resolution asking mayor to set aside 0.5% of budget as council strategic contingency ($9.42 million)",745,3132000,3877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6&start=3132&end=3877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6/thumbnail_3132000.jpg","/articles/6356384/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Finance-Committee-moves-to-file-resolution-asking-mayor-to-set-aside-05-of-budget-as-council-strategic-contingency-942-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356384-5bdba1768dbaf972ee72af074fe812d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205293&Signature=gKitGE5xWK0mvQgCzWaogyJseM~dUukjw5d9tue9DRJqnBAc-EtUOYr-UNkNwsiFnFnM9yKrW8noaXff1Glo5TH9myJbhos9Akrch1-uNyl~N7~zqeJokddFcwk6hw6tru9zpMCPAnbdAflZK-t8b0F3Vt0tou--Rv7GSHDF1TlMMi-UZk2ZQArlI8bBrfNqP~lsbPff8jRzRxstUBo4ccc0na~qzsjEgQGirH7BVi0GKlbuLz2fbeWISp4EcnUc5IYO1A~wYPVo04vt7lPUxLlhczpNncacZk1hjDZOe7gUJcRzdfM2S0urw-D5bLlP3NALmunm4hsSnq7pCYa1PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance Committee on Jan. 7 instructed staff to file a draft resolution requesting the mayor place 0.5% of the fiscal‑year 2025–26 budget into a council strategic initiatives contingency account, an amount the administration calculated as $9,416,621.

Mary Stifopoulos (Office of General Counsel) reviewed a draft resolution and a handout prepared with Auditor Kim Taylor that framed possible guardrails for the contingency account: examples included setting minimum/maximum allocations, limiting projects to countywide benefit, reserving amounts specifically for priorities such as homelessness, and specifying timing thresholds for spending (for example, limiting how much may be used in the first six months of the fiscal year).

Committee members debated whether to add guardrails immediately or wait for the budget process. Council Member Raoul Arias moved to file Council Member Ron Salem’s proposed resolution and the committee agreed to file it as presented; staff said the filing deadline for the resolution to reach the administration was the following day.

Mary Stifopoulos and Kim Taylor told the committee the resolution itself would not appropriate funds; it would only request that the mayor place the 0.5% into a council contingency account during the mayor’s proposed budget. Appropriation and any direct contracts or grants from that contingency would be subject to later council action and to Chapter 118 rules governing city grants.

Several council members raised practical concerns about later appropriation—for example, nonprofit organizations that cannot front reimbursable grants—asking staff to consider grant‑administration guardrails when the council later appropriates funds. The committee agreed to file the resolution without guardrails and to address detailed guardrails later in the budget process.

The committee directed staff to file the draft resolution by the filing deadline and to return to the Finance Committee during the budget process for guardrail and appropriation discussions.","The committee directed staff to file a resolution requesting the mayor include 0.5% of the budget—calculated at $9,416,621—in a council strategic initiatives contingency account; members discussed guardrails but agreed to file the resolution now and consider guardrails during the budget process.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6356386,"Council hears updates on homeless outreach: 93 ‘Homeward Bound’ trips, beds filled, beaches interlocal raised",168,1396000,1564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6&start=1396&end=1564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216616-49f293507639fdbe1e3bdb138ed88ec6/thumbnail_1396000.jpg","/articles/6356386/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Council-hears-updates-on-homeless-outreach-93-Homeward-Bound-trips-beds-filled-beaches-interlocal-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356386-3d022564a6811bd2ba2e95be15f60023/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205293&Signature=GeCzaczrZ0lIrmH1HXgPCFdTLjX5oiEIXi5gEYJY0CVr8jAo8jOE~FEDnbH9ul7UdnpbBy0rmVruGC6ymtU6BBbVQNQ6ZMXJnwn9ao~jROVRXOP-hmJHWLR1alce0KscYUBSMuI8ygHotHdGuGb3Cfck7k7wNgFEikUIcdxps3Rr2iaty7aQ-YZHAztL7DW9bQtGmrLKZk4oBK-U2h10tDytMCrq1jkgOX~HqY845f-qexyCMEzBCMFQ8UDLzExQnhWTH7Drf4whc0ZjImN1tWYWght7v-PfOHPSmA7iZF-UmTY62Yir1Bdvd5vUof5~DfdxVSF0SjknF8hV2FwfCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacksonville Fire & Rescue and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office told the Finance Committee on Jan. 7 that a new outreach and sheltering effort has routed people off the streets but also strained available beds and raised jurisdictional questions for the beaches.

Chief Keith Powers said outreach began in October and that the program has had “a lot of success” in the downtown core. “Since Oct. 1, we have now gotten 93 folks in the Homeward Bound,” Powers said, referring to the program that returns out‑of‑town people to their home communities.

Captain Parramore (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue) told the committee the outreach PATH team had about 900 contacts (some duplicates) and that 60 people accepted services at Trinity Rescue Mission. She said the operation started Dec. 16 with 28 beds and the city added 16 beds around Jan. 3; the additional beds had been fully filled by the previous Friday.

District 1 Commander Jimmy Riggs (JSO) reported enforcement and engagement numbers: “since Oct. 0, [we have] 529 warnings, 86 arrest, and then 27 notices to appear,” he said. Riggs added that many people contacted are now accepting services and that outreach has expanded beyond downtown.

Council members praised first responders’ work but raised concerns about geographic scope and capacity. Council Member Rory Diamond said he was told earlier that the program would include the beaches, and he and others said the beaches communities currently cannot use Homeward Bound funding or JFRD outreach in their jurisdictions without an interlocal agreement. “We’re not allowed to use homeward bound money even though we pay taxes and pay into that fund,” Diamond said, and he asked the administration to pursue an interlocal agreement so the three beaches municipalities can access services.

Chief Powers said the statutory language made municipalities responsible for areas within their boundaries and that the administration had not been asked to coordinate an interlocal agreement to date; Mary Stifopoulos, Office of General Counsel, offered to follow up and check the status of any negotiations.

Council Member Jacoby Pittman and others urged that the program be given more time to operate and that the council not “raise hell” before the pilot runs; Pittman said the work takes time and cautioned against short‑term criticism. Council Member Will Lane and others asked that remaining contracted beds with Salvation Army and City Rescue Mission be brought online sooner rather than later; the council had previously appropriated funds and Powers said the administration could bring on additional beds as needed.

Committee leaders asked for a follow‑up report specifically on the beaches issue at the next finance committee meeting and pledged continued monitoring of bed capacity and program outcomes.

No formal vote was taken on the homeless program during the session.","Jacksonville Fire & Rescue and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported 93 'Homeward Bound' returns, Trinity Rescue Mission beds fully used and 529 warnings downtown; council members raised concerns about beaches access to services and asked administration to pursue interlocal agreements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council auditors, members question protobox hologram purchase and use of building‑inspection funds at JIA

Votes at a glance: Finance Committee approvals, Jan. 7

Auditors to restructure; city to issue RFP for next external auditor with selection committee, cone‑of‑silence rules

Finance Committee moves to file resolution asking mayor to set aside 0.5% of budget as council strategic contingency ($9.42 million)

Council hears updates on homeless outreach: 93 ‘Homeward Bound’ trips, beds filled, beaches interlocal raised