At a Glance

The council's sharpest vote of the night came on the Riverside/Avondale historic district appeal (2026-0232), which squeaked through 9-8 — eight members including Council President Carrico voting no. The full council split 9-8, with Carrico, Amaro, Clark-Murray, Pittman, Gay, Johnson, Peluso, and Salem in dissent, on the quasi-judicial resolution granting the St. Johns Quarter LLC appeal to construct a new primary structure at 2230 St. Johns Ave.¹ Two major DIA downtown preservation loans (2026-0218 and 2026-0219) cleared the full council 14-4 after failing committee, with Boylan, Diamond, Freeman, and Gay dissenting both times. The Brooklyn district expansion of the Downtown Entertainment District (2026-0223) also drew four nays — Carrico, Freeman, Gay, and Salem. Council approved a $12M J&J Vision Care incentive package unanimously and introduced a Winn-Dixie headquarters retention deal worth up to $12M. The meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m. with 18 members present and CM Carlucci excused.²

Newsworthy Items

Item 1: 2026-0232 — Riverside/Avondale Historic District new-structure appeal (St. Johns Quarter LLC)

• Decided: PASSED — council amended and approved, granting the JHPC appeal so St. Johns Quarter LLC may construct a new primary structure at 2230 St. Johns Ave in the Riverside/Avondale Historic District.
• Vote: 9-8, dissenters: Carrico, Amaro, Clark-Murray, Pittman, Gay, Johnson, Peluso, Salem.
• Flags: close-vote, staff-overruled
• Confidence: High

The resolution concerns the appeal of a final order of the JHPC denying an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA-25-33142) by St. Johns Quarter LLC, seeking to construct a new primary structure in the Riverside/Avondale Historic District at 2230 St. Johns Ave.³ The LUZ committee had approved the grant of appeal 5-2 on 4/21/26, with Gaffney Jr. and Johnson dissenting at committee.⁴ Planning Dept recommended denial. At full council, the vote was 9-8, with Lahnen, Howland, White, Arias, Boylan, Carlucci, Diamond, Freeman, and Miller in favor; Carrico, Amaro, Clark-Murray, Pittman, Gay, Johnson, Peluso, and Salem opposed.⁵ The one-vote margin and the council president's no vote make this the night's most significant contested action.

Item 41: 2026-0285 — J&J Vision Care economic development agreement

• Decided: PASSED — council amended and approved a resolution authorizing an economic development agreement with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
• Vote: 16-0.
• Flags: public-comment-heavy
• Confidence: High

The resolution approves and authorizes execution of an economic development agreement between the city and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care to support expansion of the company's existing manufacturing facility at 7500 Centurion Pkwy and construction of a new packaging and logistics facility at 815 S. Main St.⁶ The deal authorizes a 6-year Recapture Enhanced Value Grant of $10,500,000 for the Centurion facility and a 5-year Recapture Enhanced Value Grant of $1,500,000 for the Main St. facility.⁷ The item was designated for public participation. The motion carried; 16 members voted aye, including Lahnen, Carrico, Howland, White, Amaro, Arias, Boylan, Clark-Murray, Diamond, Freeman, Pittman, Gay, Johnson, Miller, Peluso, and Salem.⁸

Items 78 & 79: 2026-0218 / 2026-0219 — DIA downtown historic building rehab loans

• Decided: PASSED — council amended and approved redevelopment agreements authorizing three Downtown Preservation & Revitalization Program loans for two historic buildings.
• Vote: 14-4 (both), dissenters: Boylan, Diamond, Freeman, Gay.
• Flags: close-vote, staff-overruled
• Confidence: High

Item 78 (2026-0218) authorizes the DIA CEO to execute a redevelopment agreement with Historic Urban Core, LLC, to support renovation of a historic building at 38-44 W. Monroe St., with aggregate loans not to exceed $1,620,655.00.⁹ Item 79 (2026-0219) covers a similar agreement with Global Solution Partners, Inc. for a historic building at 231 N. Laura St., with aggregate loans not to exceed $1,907,345.00.¹⁰ Both items failed NCSPHS committee 3-4 — with Gay, White, Amaro, and Boylan opposing — before the Finance Committee approved each 5-1 (Diamond dissenting).¹¹ At full council both passed 14-4, with Boylan, Diamond, Freeman, and Gay voting nay.¹²

Item 81: 2026-0223 — Brooklyn District added to Downtown Entertainment District

• Decided: PASSED — ORD-MC approved expanding the Downtown Entertainment District boundary to include the Brooklyn District and updating the district map.
• Vote: 14-4, dissenters: Carrico, Freeman, Gay, Salem.
• Flags: close-vote
• Confidence: High

The ordinance repeals and recreates Sec. 154.502 of the Alcoholic Beverages code to include the Brooklyn District within the boundaries of the Downtown Entertainment District and update the map.¹³ At committee, NCSPHS approved 5-2 (Gay, Salem dissenting) and Rules approved 4-3 (Salem, Freeman, Gay dissenting).¹⁴ Full council vote was 14-4, with Carrico, Freeman, Gay, and Salem voting nay.¹⁵ Introduced by CM Peluso; the ordinance has implications for extended-hours alcohol sales in Brooklyn.

Item 80: 2026-0221 — JHFA board appointment waiving Duval County residency requirement

• Decided: PASSED — ordinance confirmed Mayor's appointment of Shannon Nazworth, a St. Johns County resident, to the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority, with waiver of the Duval County residency requirement.
• Vote: 16-2, dissenters: Freeman, Gay.
• Flags: close-vote
• Confidence: High

The ordinance confirms the appointment of Shannon Nazworth, a St. Johns County resident, to the JHFA, waiving the ordinance code requirement that JHFA board members reside in Duval County, for a partial term expiring 6/30/27 followed by a first full term expiring 6/30/31.¹⁶ At Rules Committee the measure passed 5-2 with Freeman and Gay opposing; at full council it passed 16-2 with the same two dissenters.¹⁷

Items 58 & 59: 2026-0006 / 2026-0007 — Morse Avenue land-use amendment and rezoning (89 single-family units)

• Decided: PASSED — small-scale comp plan FLUM amendment (LDR to MDR) and companion rezoning (RR-Acre to PUD for max 89 single-family units) both approved.
• Vote: 11-6, dissenters: Boylan, Freeman, Pittman, Gay, Johnson, Salem.
• Flags: close-vote, staff-overruled, deferred-again
• Confidence: High

The small-scale amendment covers 9.70± acres at 5735 Morse Ave, 5807 Morse Ave, and 6750 Seaboard Ave in District 14 (Johnson), changing the land use from LDR to MDR.¹⁸ The Planning Dept recommended denial; Planning Commission approved. LUZ approved 4-3 at committee.¹⁹ The public hearing had been continued multiple times since February 2026; full council passed both companion items 11-6, with Boylan, Freeman, Pittman, Gay, Johnson, and Salem voting nay.²⁰

Item 91: 2026-0326 — Winn-Dixie economic development agreement (1st reading)

• Decided: INTRODUCED — 1st reading, assigned to Finance Committee.
• Vote: No roll call recorded (1st reading introduction).
• Confidence: Medium

The resolution would approve an economic development agreement with the Winn-Dixie Company, LLC to support renovation and expansion of the company's existing headquarters and renovation of 14 existing full-service grocery stores within the city.²¹ The deal authorizes a 20-year Recapture Enhanced Value (REV) Grant capped at $5,500,000, plus a headquarters retention grant not to exceed $6,500,000 payable in equal annual disbursements of $1,300,000 over five years — and expressly waives the Public Investment Policy to authorize the headquarters grant.²² Requires 2-reading passage per Council Rule 3.305. Watch for public participation when it returns.

Item 27: 2026-0248 — FY 2026-27 opioid settlement proceeds grant allocations

• Decided: PASSED — ordinance establishing FY 26-27 funding percentages and grant application process for opioid settlement proceeds.
• Vote: 15-0-2, abstentions: Carrico, Pittman.
• Flags: surprise-amendment
• Confidence: High

The ordinance establishes FY 26-27 allocation of funding percentages for opioid settlement proceeds funded categories and the grant application process, per Ch. 84 of the Ordinance Code, at the request of the OSUD Grants Committee.²³ CM Lahnen pulled this item from the consent agenda.²⁴ Council President Carrico and CM Pittman both abstained; 15 members voted aye.²⁵ The abstentions from leadership are worth a follow-up.

Consent Agenda

The following items passed on the consent agenda (17-0 unless noted):

• Item 10: 2026-0185 — $100,000 for City Hall elevator repairs (PASSED).
• Item 11: 2026-0187 — $30,000 to North FL School of Special Education vocational program (PASSED).
• Item 12: 2026-0214 — Amendment to United Way 2-1-1 Program grant agreement (PASSED).
• Item 13: 2026-0215 — $75,000 for beautification/street sweeping initiatives (PASSED).
• Item 14: 2026-0217 — $25,000 from SLETF to First Coast Crime Stoppers (PASSED).
• Item 15: 2026-0220 — ORD-MC eliminating Sign Enforcement Fund references (PASSED).
• Item 16: 2026-0222 — Restrictive covenant with FL DEP re Bishop Gate Ln right-of-way (PASSED).
• Item 17: 2026-0224 — Amendment to 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline grant agreement (PASSED).
• Item 18: 2026-0225 — $90,576 for Mosquito Control Division operations (PASSED).
• Item 19: 2026-0226 — $77,440 FWC grant for derelict vessel removal (PASSED).
• Item 20: 2026-0231 — Resolution supporting protected downtown bicycle lanes (PASSED).
• Item 21: 2026-0236 — Confirmation of Sheriff's appointment of Joseph D. Stronko as Chief of Patrol Support (PASSED).
• Item 22: 2026-0237 — Approval of revised Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (PASSED).
• Item 23: 2026-0242 — Mayor's appointment of Ariane Randolph to Eastside Grants Committee (WITHDRAWN on consent, 17-0).²⁶
• Items 24–32: Multiple Mobility System Working Group lay member appointments (all PASSED).
• Items 33–40: Ceremonial resolutions (all PASSED).

Skipped

Call to order, invocation (Chris Tomlinson, Destiny Church), Pledge of Allegiance (CM Amaro), announcements, roll call, approval of April 14 minutes, mayoral communications (CDD budget submissions, regulatory compliance report), three ceremonial framed resolution presentations, page introductions, floor leader quasi-judicial statements, and page-break/header boilerplate throughout the 62-page minutes were all purely procedural or ceremonial and are not covered. The large block of 2nd-reading items (items 87–90) that were simply read and referred to LUZ, and the dozens of new 1st-reading introductions (items 112–166) assigned without action, are also omitted except where substantively newsworthy (Winn-Dixie, Item 91).

References