[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6585940,"mediaKeyId","5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6","parentId",5573887,"title","General counsel reviews Florida Sunshine Law; meeting lacked quorum so actions deferred to Sept. 10","audioSeconds",993,"startMs",2732000,"endMs",3725000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6&start=2732&end=3725","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6/thumbnail_2732000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6585940/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/General-counsel-reviews-Florida-Sunshine-Law-meeting-lacked-quorum-so-actions-deferred-to-Sept-10","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585940-c9a191d05c72fc346fd7532a35fc2f78/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901638&Signature=gEsWfqnBT9HemgzrZYBS3HUDfsRqhdPKeXOBd8bdLyarkDc0-NwDdpkuHLLJrMVmfUPWSnQnWRaRTzOFZPyRqipQU2k8EbjW0KvkT~df2sRApad8Hwi1obN6C3FddF5y1pGbQZ4ZV~pdA-HK6nhdATuOfEbApK8XnyEbhXhbtg48VrnmmD2UtnnLktDUIs8Ux5GsfRwGd0b05vACfnaZNE0tUWiWUopHxJ13mp4XVFmhpx-tJ-RWd9eK3-dt1tAaiKpT9rUsG1-uCwfYL6yHUlPSLiln2Kgl1J4nHNzCa5SWGphgT-Qx5puP07ROENpsL6E0Um9~fiQ3bIowjJ7BCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-08-13T00:00:00Z","article","Shannon McGillis of the Office of General Counsel gave a Sunshine Law refresher to the Jacksonville Waterways Commission at its Aug. 13 meeting, emphasizing that private communications between two or more members about subjects likely to come to a vote can create criminal Sunshine Law exposure.

McGillis walked commissioners through where to find a two-page Sunshine Law primer and explained that communications by phone, email or text are covered. \"If members of the same board or commission are having a communication about a topic that is likely to come up to a vote, that will get you sunburned. This is a criminal offense,\" she said.

She also advised commissioners not to \"ferry information\" by asking staff to seek another member's position, and she offered to review borderline questions before members act. McGillis reminded the group about required ethics training and upcoming in-person and Zoom sessions.

Because the Aug. 13 meeting did not have a quorum, the commission deferred approval of minutes and any action items until its Sept. 10 meeting. The chair announced, and McGillis confirmed, that the commission will place action items, including the proposed Shad Creek no-wake resolution and approval of minutes, on the Sept. 10 agenda for formal consideration.

Ending: McGillis told members to direct borderline communications to her for review and to consult the online Sunshine Law primer and ethics resources; the commission will reconvene with a quorum to consider pending actions on Sept. 10.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Waterways Commission","oneSentenceSummary","Shannon McGillis, Office of General Counsel, gave a Sunshine Law refresher at the Aug. 13 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting and reminded members that private discussions about topics likely to come to a vote can violate the law. Because the meeting lacked a quorum, approval of minutes and any actions were deferred to Sept. 10.","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},6585944,"Council member requests commission seek FWC review to expand Shad Creek no-wake zone",301,3408000,3709000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6&start=3408&end=3709","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6/thumbnail_3408000.jpg","/articles/6585944/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Council-member-requests-commission-seek-FWC-review-to-expand-Shad-Creek-no-wake-zone","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585944-a29b8012522e5459e69ac260b9419159/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901638&Signature=YQfptpdtTnUBbMfkG8e5CcOWrJA3PJHDrggnc-rMAoufgUS4W6TP~jEVMpA~1SNQKDaoTi0IPieopCKBKRsIS7h4gZxeozjNrbz1Dc1RINdEYQv5SusbAMdKMiJUt~neQgeq4hckvyVSJChl2QMzpyr3sk6oCoQYq86YoYfo4cfb4~RwBCGEtzSYG3UxrtqcZYuNuFqRiKlN724EvXwqyt9wHdhXQbcfhSrptALevpKfIDlrFLcxTURTj6jjUvByg8WEb0kKq1Ab0AaKBH3ruOK-qPJHESaaHB8BVSIxvWRPT-DFFmmkdA3lnuJiYv1PXwljGXFl8uzJW3lNTCxYIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council Member Gaye told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on Aug. 13 that the number and size of vessels using Shad Creek have increased since FDOT raised a bridge there, and he asked the commission to request that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission review expanding an existing no-wake zone.

Gaye said FDOT did not complete a boater study when it raised the bridge over Shad Creek, which contributed to larger vessels using the cut-through to reach the sandbar. He said the change has prompted concerns about safety and wake impacts on adjacent shorelines.

\"When FDOT raised that bridge over Shad Creek, they did not do their boater study ... and so since it's been opened, the larger boats are coming through there at an increased significant level,\" Gaye said. He added that FWC has asked whether the waterway could pursue a formal resolution requesting the state agency and the state to review expanding the no-wake zone.

Commissioner Adam Hoyles said the commission previously posted a no-wake zone in the area to the allowable standard and that the proposed change would extend protection northward to cover the current cut-through used to access the sandbar.

Commission counsel Shannon McGillis said the correct posture is to request a formal resolution, but the commission lacked a quorum at the Aug. 13 meeting. She offered to work with Council Member Gaye on the wording and to place a resolution on the Sept. 10 agenda. \"If the next waterways date, Sept. 10, ... is OK, I can work with Council Member Gaye about the wording of that resolution and have it for this body at the next meeting,\" McGillis said.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to prepare resolution language for formal consideration on Sept. 10. The item will return to the commission for a vote when a quorum is present.","Council Member Gaye asked the commission to request a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission review of expanding the no-wake zone on Shad Creek, citing increased large-boat traffic after an FDOT bridge project and the lack of a boater study.",{"_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},6585949,"Residents and officials press for repair plan, accountability on George Crady Bridge",713,767000,1480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6&start=767&end=1480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6/thumbnail_767000.jpg","/articles/6585949/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Residents-and-officials-press-for-repair-plan-accountability-on-George-Crady-Bridge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585949-8a1b5febbfa481af3f6080a4844887cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901638&Signature=Z~UhlPeMqo8K7KsmWag4TwSnG9~Qg346iqJbyQOwL56qUg5KVs7agH3N9VhvfQJ1BI7GJ8HHPwpkhVmcSt4aJukhAnRCDBKOiCOA5YJXbmmvNJMIM2KVYNHd1fb4Am0RR9pElYmHetcoqnWCHnEXIxDMIlK5uimSThWlIuYwARK9iYMtfyeSHdSgsNKZ3L9eo16ZR~YLxcHd6aYD9O9hGnrqvyJX8nBu2oKEkzm70SrIBb4~ad3dHWZqbWKY9DXnWYUmlAO0Jdf9nRGIL5CXFLNNF5Cj655edT8jXhJcYQZ-s~e3iV5StZgTMsH95te3z4GwGmFB3IDflbN1M8q40w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and public officials urged action and clearer accounting for maintenance funding for the George Crady Bridge (also referred to in testimony as the Crady Bridge) during public comment at the Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting on Aug. 13.

Why it matters: The historic bridge links Duval and Nassau counties for pedestrians and anglers; residents and officials said portions of the Duval-side structure have been closed for safety and that repairs will require significant funding and intergovernmental coordination.

Several speakers described persistent local loss of access and amenities. \"We just want to find out if they applied for FEMA money — did they receive monies? Did they not use the money there for the road?\" Latrice Bell, a resident, said, asking whether funds used for a Nassau-side boat ramp left Duval residents without pier access or the promised amenities.

Tommy Rodell and Johnny Turner, who identified themselves as frequent users of the bridge and local fishing advocates, said the Duval side has been closed for years while the Nassau side remains open. Rodell asked where annual maintenance contributions and other project funds had been spent, saying a previously promised bait-cleaning table and water supply were removed. \"We don't have a fishing table out there, a bait table. We don't have no water,\" he said.

Council Member Gaye and other commissioners described recent meetings with state representatives and said the parties are seeking a phased approach to restoration. \"The city of Jacksonville contributes $35,000 a year to the maintenance of the bridge. Nassau County contributes $15,000 ... and the agreement is that the state, DEP maintains the bridge,\" Gaye said, adding that the state's obligation under the contract had not been fulfilled. He urged state engagement on phased funding to reopen portions of the Duval side.

Commissioner John Barker and Commissioner Grit (committee members) said the structure's underlying condition on the Duval side is significantly worse than on Nassau's side. Barker said photographic inspections show concrete deterioration under the Duval spans and that the city contribution was intended to keep the facility clean and safe, not to perform large structural rehabilitation. \"There's no way you're gonna maintain that structure with $30,000 a year,\" Barker said.

Commissioner Grit cited the contract's language — \"paragraph article number 7\" — and said it \"explicitly states that the state will fully maintain that pier/slash bridge,\" adding that the city had met its contribution. He urged pursuit of a plan to phase work and hold the state accountable for its contractual maintenance obligations.

Several commissioners and staff proposed forming a subcommittee or working group to convene partners, review inspection criteria (FDOT bridge standards versus fishing-pier standards) and explore phased funding to reopen safe portions of the pier without attempting a single, full $15 million reconstruction up front.

No formal votes were held. Commissioners and state representatives at the meeting pledged follow-up: a state representative said she would follow up on getting water and bait tables restored and staff said they would pursue further coordination with state parks, FDOT and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Ending: Community members said they would press for inspection records, accounting for previous funds and a phased restoration plan; commission members said they will continue intergovernmental outreach and consider options that could reopen portions of the Duval side while planning larger repairs.","Multiple residents urged repairs and transparency for the George Crady Bridge during public comment at the Aug. 13 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting; officials said the city contributes $35,000 annually and the state is contractually responsible for maintenance, and they discussed phased repairs and funding gaps.",{"_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},6585954,"Jacksonville scientist reports normal salinity, low toxins and recent manatee deaths on St. Johns River",291,128000,419000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6&start=128&end=419","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573887-b2cbd29ff62cdeadce5fb576fef7b0b6/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6585954/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Jacksonville-scientist-reports-normal-salinity-low-toxins-and-recent-manatee-deaths-on-St-Johns-River","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585954-c6c0cf9775076e8f876064a290a8217a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901638&Signature=ekqNnYlCydMXyk1z3ncYPCl3xMKk8mblY2GRMkCPbw77hNmK0-OQkGbZXykaNcibBfUSFs1gXCQ5J0qFot2L9TBSW2jHPGDU7Qn6Wp39Hu~Jsfag4FL5Zcg~fAwrjbIF~X~rwuRde4ojyjUUrJWT9zczqXVae-BA7mZYVmOxaeCK4zjd2anSpmFD2bQBNMPQ2D00c4m1E50584lWHm8SAoTH-kcG4xJyurer6wx87c628MSyfPyStCVKVsNjecxy3IEgbFcxljYbGjLZNMjII46pZxo0CJm5gY3~vjhj8Zdtf8h~M9bMBWzPAK981mkES8Ufki7yu8qwxJE2ANYqUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Jerry Pinto, a researcher at Jacksonville University, told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on Aug. 13 that salinity and temperature patterns in the St. Johns River are within expected ranges for this rainy season but that localized harmful-algae blooms and a recent cluster of manatee deaths merit continued monitoring.

Pinto said salinity at Mayport measured about 18 to 22 parts per thousand, slightly lower than normal at that station, and that rainfall in Duval County was roughly 2 inches above normal for the period. \"These high temperatures and rain kind of come together to bring conditions that might promote algae blooms,\" Pinto said.

Why it matters: manatee mortalities and algae blooms can signal larger ecosystem stress and affect recreational use of the river, commercial activity and local wildlife management decisions.

Pinto reported approximately five manatee deaths since the commission's previous meeting in June and said the current total for the area he monitors is about 14, with three identified as perinatal deaths. \"I've kind of highlighted those in yellow in the handout. You'll see that 3 of those are perinatal deaths,\" Pinto said, adding that higher perinatal counts can reflect increased calf production as adult manatees recover and reproduce.

At the state level, Pinto said Florida had recorded 73 manatee mortalities year-to-date out of nearly 500 statewide — a figure he described as slightly elevated but within expected ranges outside of major events such as red tide or cold-stress events. \"When we have those red tide events or cold stress events ... the numbers kick up to double that. So right now we're at about what we would expect,\" he said.

Pinto described one case he believes was linked to a channel lock at Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club, where he said he spoke with the lockmaster and observed bruising consistent with being struck or trapped by flood/lock gates. \"It looks like this animal was impacted by the flood lock gates in some way from the bruising and the damaging damages on it,\" he said, noting he did not yet have a necropsy report to confirm the cause.

On harmful-algae blooms, Pinto said agencies detected mixed algae in the river but toxin readings have been low in Duval County. He noted toxin detections farther downstream near the Shands Bridge area. \"There's been mixed algae in the river, but there's not been any toxin detected until you get down to about the Shands Bridge,\" Pinto said.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about human health risks from Vibrio \"flesh-eating\" bacteria and manatee susceptibility. Pinto said Vibrio species are present year-round in coastal waters and thrive in warmer months, and that people with open wounds or compromised immune systems are most at risk. He said he had not heard of manatees commonly experiencing Vibrio infections but noted wounded animals are more vulnerable to secondary infection and are candidates for rescue.

Pinto also said seagrass — a key manatee food source — has shown some regrowth after storm impacts, though recovery has taken longer than usual. \"We have 14 different species in the river. One that's predominant is the tape grass ... that's what's coming back,\" he said, noting that loss of seagrass has contributed to manatees moving farther south in search of forage.

The commission did not take formal action on the report; Pinto concluded by inviting questions and recommending continued monitoring and sampling.

Ending: The commission heard the report during its Aug. 13 meeting and did not vote on specific follow-up measures. Commissioners and staff discussed local enforcement and rescue coordination; any formal requests for additional sampling or funding would require placement on a future agenda.","Dr. Jerry Pinto told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on Aug. 13 that salinities and harmful-algae-toxin levels in much of the St. Johns River are near normal but that the commission should watch localized blooms and recent manatee mortalities, including a probable channel-lock death.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

General counsel reviews Florida Sunshine Law; meeting lacked quorum so actions deferred to Sept. 10

Council member requests commission seek FWC review to expand Shad Creek no-wake zone

Residents and officials press for repair plan, accountability on George Crady Bridge

Jacksonville scientist reports normal salinity, low toxins and recent manatee deaths on St. Johns River