[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6518785,"mediaKeyId","5385769-e35eec4310bb019bf6123865ce95c463","parentId",5385769,"title","Rules committee approves multiple bills, amends charter language, and appoints local restaurateur to Kids Hope Alliance","audioSeconds",2875,"startMs",160000,"endMs",3035000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385769-e35eec4310bb019bf6123865ce95c463&start=160&end=3035","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385769-e35eec4310bb019bf6123865ce95c463/thumbnail_160000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518785/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Rules-committee-approves-multiple-bills-amends-charter-language-and-appoints-local-restaurateur-to-Kids-Hope-Alliance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518785-dfa288c6da9230f2781c42ada50c7db2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159472&Signature=UM~PL7697eFlnGJafoKAD3qXCh2aDhGwkiZyDqcHo8mBTvLzC2Gz-Z2jHJ5Rx~9hN0v4qsy7kwdEK2Wge8vaEdk19L7GJxE7qAKgdSBFMDnzVa6VAgu8Xd5ASQUYPij-yOPdQ23MGfw7Z~1deK3yeJf0GiaFG92iKnIAsRBlRSTYXTyvaDruMnsnXEMmPqyUFtaWx58DJB5IMqEJ9RKwAZ4bqaxqN06hHOtgAbyPvztOWwCibYQDL~FpL4R0EcfRGgmvx~FkkFvxCFtgaA5Pt-4FG6zT84SMSaJKUeMxKv9IvHbxrponUGw9Clo11zw6pkvjBxcWlcIU-uRp8UKL5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-07-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee on July 14, 2025 approved a series of bills and amendments, took a resolution requesting state signage for Durkeeville, and confirmed an appointment to the Kids Hope Alliance board. Most motions passed unanimously by recorded tallies in committee.

Committee action highlights:

• Item 20250435: The committee approved bill 20250435 by voice vote (recorded as 8 yeas, 0 nays). The committee had taken up this bill at the start of the session and opened the ballot before public comment.

• Item 20250188 (as amended): Members approved technical corrections and scrivener’s edits to the bill; the amended bill passed on a recorded vote of 7 yeas, 0 nays. Former Council President Ron Salem and Vice Chair Terrence Freeman said they would support the bill but raised concerns about a separate $40,000,000 appropriation and the movement of JEA-related funds; Freeman said auditors have outstanding information requests and intends to review the issue in Finance.

• Item 20250410 (as amended): The committee approved an amendment to codify a November 30 term end date for the Subdivision Standards and Policy Advisory Committee and corrected scrivener’s errors; the bill as amended passed 7–0.

• Item 20250430 (as amended): The amendment corrected scrivener’s errors, authorized carryover of funding through fiscal 2025–26 to align with an extended contract term, added an oversight department, and corrected an exhibit with budget detail. The bill as amended passed 7–0.

• Item 20250432 (as amended): The amendment attached code section 36104 as required (the section is being repealed by the legislation) and fixed scrivener’s errors. The bill as amended passed 7–0.

• Item 20250438 (appointment): The committee approved the mayoral appointment of Josh Martino to fill a vacancy on the Kids Hope Alliance board, voting 7–0. The legislation included a waiver of the Duval County residency requirement; Martino, who lives in St. Johns County, described his “substantial business interest” operating Bono’s Barbecue and Home Team Restaurant Group with 18 Jacksonville locations and said he regularly does philanthropic and board work across Duval County.

• Item 20250442 (resolution requesting FDOT sign): The committee approved a resolution requesting the Florida Department of Transportation install a marker or signage at Exit 353D on I‑95 designating the entrance to the historic Durkeeville neighborhood; vote 7–0. Committee members noted the decision and final installation remain within FDOT’s discretion. Public Works staff member Nina Sickler offered to follow up with FDOT and coordinate updates.

• Second-reading bills and batch approvals: The committee recorded approval of a group of second-reading bills (listed on the record) including 20250465, 20250466, 20250467, 20250468, 20250469, 20250471, 20250472, 20250473, 20250475, 20250476, 20250477, 20250478, 20250482 and 20250479; those items recorded votes of 7 yeas, 0 nays as shown at the end of the agenda.

Committee members generally approved the amendments and bills as presented, but several members asked staff and auditors to follow up on funding movement tied to JEA and to provide more detailed budget information at Finance. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville, FL - Rules Committee - Jul 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee on July 14, 2025 approved multiple bills, amendments and an appointment, and passed a resolution requesting a Durkeeville sign from FDOT; most motions passed unanimously in committee.","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},6518790,"Residents urge rules committee to keep public comment at start, protest morgue in residential neighborhood",891,263000,1154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385769-e35eec4310bb019bf6123865ce95c463&start=263&end=1154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385769-e35eec4310bb019bf6123865ce95c463/thumbnail_263000.jpg","/articles/6518790/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Residents-urge-rules-committee-to-keep-public-comment-at-start-protest-morgue-in-residential-neighborhood","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518790-0cb0e6c3e9a9d6cbb9ad3bea27f34d93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159472&Signature=mNVSooj1gBzWxU-EwZwzNt-AH8GrAgaWeqpSdXvTMeZIgIWoeNmIZdYrdG7PDZQlEQkNb7ZdhjYu8q-w8MyMktLab3VmUzkkoOOX~4Xb~DBRqoU~wNu-YJfIi9R6CfeDtK45GlfQrpIG~hSzGPO0aK~ATsNxI8cA-BH9DPBCt8G7WHBqspO3x5cPr6TccoxuvpqRBWnaaav5HxC~NrFY0xh5D28VYJbGMk8ESfIqw9dOV2Oqs6~HptSaOraPdc0TSBnlTZ-05xgtmOJ6Eq-XxfdYyviUn5k2kNexS4AwOAp9X0P3CsCdFoh7RJS4o5NgJx8Opxc~4TyX21Jo74Ux~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 14, 2025 Rules Committee meeting in Jacksonville, multiple residents urged the committee to keep public comment at the start of council meetings and pressed officials over a newly built medical examiner’s facility they say sits within a residential neighborhood near a school.

Speakers said the proposed change to move public comment to the end of some meetings would reduce public visibility and civic engagement. “By the time the meeting is over, there’s nobody really left in the chamber to hear what the public has to say,” said Wells Totten, identifying himself as a resident and community organizer. Residents recommended a standing guarantee that public comment remain at the start of the second and fourth city council meetings.

The hearing also drew multiple comments about a medical examiner’s office and morgue built in a residential area. “The placement of the morgue…demands an environmental impact study to ensure that the children at the school 10 yards away are not being exposed to anything toxic,” said Dr. Nancy Stotts, who identified herself as a physician and gave an Atlantic Beach address for the record.

Other speakers tied the site choice to neighborhood equity and quality-of-life concerns. Roselle Van Nostrand said the project was placed in a historically redlined, predominantly African American neighborhood and called the siting “unthinkable.” Katrina Spencer said construction traffic had torn up local streets, created drainage problems and generated noise; she asked the city to “repurpose” the building for community needs such as an urgent care or skills center instead of a morgue. Spencer also referenced residents’ concern about odors and described a claim that the facility would serve “300 dead bodies,” a characterization she used to underscore community unease about the project’s scale and neighborhood impact.

Other public commenters focused on process and access. Amina Sharif and Lydia Bell asked council members to remain present and attentive during public comment and said late-night meetings make it difficult for seniors and working residents to participate. Denise Cook urged the council to move from study and resolution to concrete action on long-promised anti-redlining work and funding, noting “there’s $400,000,000 earmarked for projects in these areas” and asking for clearer next steps and faster implementation.

Committee members acknowledged the public remarks during the meeting but did not take formal action on the morgue siting or on changes to the public comment schedule at this session. The meeting proceeded to the published agenda after the public-comment period.","At the July 14, 2025 Jacksonville Rules Committee meeting, multiple residents urged the committee to retain public comment at the start of council meetings and protested construction of a medical examiner's facility (morgue) in a residential neighborhood, citing health, equity and procedural concerns.","actionData","errors"]

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Rules committee approves multiple bills, amends charter language, and appoints local restaurateur to Kids Hope Alliance

Residents urge rules committee to keep public comment at start, protest morgue in residential neighborhood