Council member (sponsor) outlined a proposed $15 million appropriation on the floor of an informational council meeting, saying the package would fund five recipients to support workforce training and facility improvements.

The sponsor told attendees the proposed awards are: University of North Florida, $6,000,000; Florida State College at Jacksonville, $5,000,000; a Workforce Industrial Training Center, $3,250,000; Northeast Florida Builders Association, $1,000,000; and Edward Waters (EW), $2,700,000. The sponsor said EW originally sought $8.7 million but needs $2.7 million for year one of a three-phase plan. "UNF, $6,000,000, FSCJ, $5,000,000, workforce industrial training center, $3.25, NEFBA 1,000,000, and EW 2.7," the sponsor said.

Why it matters: council members said the package could be a quick way to expand apprenticeships, certifications and college-based training outside the annual budget cycle but warned about mid-year reallocations. Matt Carlucci, Group 4 at-large, told the sponsor he intended to support the bill but pressed for consideration of affordable housing, noting he had proposed housing dollars that were later removed during the budget process. "I'll support you on your bill," Carlucci said, while asking whether some dollars could be routed toward housing needs tied to students and trainees.

Staff said legal options exist to re-source some payments. Mister Peterson reported he met with the city attorney's office and the Tourist Development Council executive director and summarized the statute's permissible uses: "tourist dollars can be used to maintain, repair, remodel, operate, and build, enlarge... publicly owned facilities," and said UNF has been a prior TDC recipient. The sponsor said he may be able to shift roughly $2 million to $3 million of TDC funds to UNF or EW to free general dollars for housing, and that he would consider filing emergency legislation so any amendment and the main bill could move through committee together.

Members debated the scope and priorities. Some members, including Chris Miller (At Large, Group 5), urged caution about changing allocations after the budget process but said workforce training could justify an exception: "If there's anything that would support going outside the normal budget cycle . . . it would be that," Miller said, noting a national shortage of skilled trades workers and local pipeline needs. Other members asked how Edward Waters' proposed living-learning community and residential elements connect to workforce outcomes and whether allocations should be coordinated through a coalition to avoid favoring particular organizations.

Apprenticeship providers asked to be included. Ruben Velasquez, training coordinator for a registered apprenticeship program, asked the council to consider registered apprenticeship funding and described the program as tuition-free, employer-paid on-the-job training that results in state-issued trade certificates. "We're 100% tuition free. We don't charge any tuition for our apprentices," Velasquez said, adding that apprentices are typically employed by contractors during their training.

Next steps: no formal motion or vote occurred at the meeting. The sponsor said formal presentations from the five entities will be heard in the neighborhoods and finance committee meetings next week, and that he is exploring TDC reallocation and possible emergency legislation to pair with any amendments. The meeting closed with scheduling reminders and a request that staff and interested council members continue outreach to apprenticeship and trade groups.