City Council - Regular Meeting

All in favor signify by saying I post 2026.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Thank you, Mayor. page three of the minutes. Uh there's some notes there about the future briefing topic that I requested and I would just like to ask that we add some clarification because it currently says that I future briefing topic to address concerns raised by Mr. regarding budget information for public works projects. And just to clarify, I was asking for um to address concerns raised by Mr. Wilders regarding the public the budget numbers regarding the public works project and the city budget concerns that he had raised. There were two different things. So I guess I would like to recommend that we make that change to the Are you motion? Yes. Motion to Is there a second? Is there discussion on the motion to amend, Mr. Rogers?

Yes. I welcome the opportunity to discuss. Any other discussion on the motion to amend? All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? Any other discussion on the minutes as amended? All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item C. I move we approve the minutes from the regular city council meeting held on March 16th, 2026. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Approval of the agenda. I move we approve the agenda.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Agenda is approved. Announcements. Miss Golding. Okay. Um, I have several, but I'll go through them quickly. First of all, I don't know if anybody saw our social media, but uh, Jack Beach Police Department K9 Bear retired after almost seven years of service on our police department. It's kind of crazy. He started serving in August of 2018 and I was elected in November of 2018. So, he served um nearly well probably as long as I'm serving on the council. And so, I just want to recognize his service, thank him for his service, and Officer Gray, I believe, is his handler. Is that correct? Um anyway, I hope he gets lots of treats and gets to uh spend a lot of time on the couch. Now, uh, also want to thank our Jack Beach Police Department and JSO for their partnership, uh, keeping our community safe during senior skip day. Don't know if anybody saw the the numbers, but there were 13 arrests, eight of which were felonies. There were nine firearms recovered and over 100 grams of marijuana that were seized. So, want to recognize all the great work that they're doing and that great partnership. Also wanted to mention the Easter egg hunts that that uh our city sponsored at Windgate Park and Carter Center. Thank our parks and recck department and all the others who helped support those events because they were very well attended. The kids had a great time. And uh let's see. Oh, also want to mention that in district 3, which is my district, I'm happy to see that the Tall Pines Park playground equipment installation is supposed to be starting

today. It will take 3 to four weeks to complete. Um, this quaint little neighborhood park has been in need of some updates and so I'm excited to see uh the new playground equipment being installed and appreciate the work by parks and wreck to involve the neighborhood in the planning because I think it was very well done. A lot of people had an opportunity to provide input and I think they'll be very happy with the results. And then also tonight we have a proclamation. It's the lights out proclamation that uh um I would like to just mention that we have sea turtle nesting season starting May 1st. And so turning out lights are important for the sea turtles as well as for the migratory birds. And I want to reiterate something that I've said at a previous city council meeting because we're we're approaching sea turtle nesting season. And the biggest violators of our sea turtle biting ordinance are our condos along the beach. I am going to continue to say that because we need to make sure that we are communicating with our condo neighbors um and help them understand what needs to be done to um keep our beach clean, dark, and flat. So, I just wanted to bring that up again. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Golding. Any other council announcements? Mr. Warren? Uh, I just want to add on to what council member uh council member Golding was saying. Uh, I greatly appreciate the efforts of our our police department and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office um in a one-day seizure on the beach proper of nine firearms is absolutely unacceptable. I greatly appreciate the police department for their efforts. Um, I'll reiterate this again as Sandy continues to re reiterate her efforts towards the lights. I'll reiterate that we've told the police department to make it as safe and welcoming to our citizens and all the people that come to visit with the right ideas as they can and as unpleasant as legally possible for anybody who comes out here with a bad attitude and wants to cause problems. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Horn. Mr. Rogers. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to congratulate Fletcher mock trial team. They came in eighth in the state competition. They won the professionalism award and there's about 45 teams or so that compete. They did lose to the eventual champions. But hats off to Amber Jay and and all the kids there. They really put their heart and soul into it and we can all be proud as Fletcher family. God bless them. Good job. Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Mr. Wagner.

So, I just wanted to share kind of a reflection of this weekend. Um, you know, I had the opportunity to also attend a series of the Easter egg hunts both at the Windgate Park and at the Carver Center as well as two uh very large uh religious services at the beach. Um the by the way, there was one that oceans uh Ocean City Church did on the ocean which may have been the most memorable and special religious service I've ever been to in my entire life. It literally was the sense of community and family and happiness in a in a in an aggregation of 2,000 strangers was just absolutely amazing. And I was reflecting on the changes that have occurred and we've touched on it several times already where in the last few years we went from a underfunded, underresourced police department to one of the top funded police departments in North Florida and every role is filled and we have a waiting list and and I reflected on how much better it felt to go to all of those events feeling so safe and so secure knowing that our city has invested so much in making sure that we have a safe place to live in. And I just really do think that those two wonderful things are are connected. Although may not feel directly connected, the environment to which we live in, it just seems to be getting so much better over the last several years. And wanted to take the opportunity to to thank the other members on council, the city staff, and all of the members wearing blue that uh spend their time taking care of us so well each day. So, just wanted to wanted to share that reflection.

Thank you, Mr. Wagner. Mr. Jansen. Yeah. Real quick for all of you that uh want to nerd out with me about the House Senate and the House reps budget and uh extended season that's going to be coming up. It starts April 20th. So, if you want to keep your eye on what's going on with uh with the state's budget and property taxes and all that other good stuff, uh be uh be on the lookout. April 20th is when they're heading back to uh Tallahassee.

Goody. Any other announcements? Um, I just want to mention, um, first of all, uh, a real bummer, the official term is real bummer for the spring fling, which was, uh, a couple weekends ago. Um, I know it's always a really hard decision to cancel an event like that, but I really appreciate the event promoters working with our public safety officials um because it was not weather that anybody needed to be um out in, especially not uh tents and equipment and everything like that. So, kudos to them for making the right decision. I'm sure it was a a financial hit, a hit to Pride. Um, and I know a lot of people were really looking forward to that event. So, um but but they did the right thing. I think that was um well confirmed as the winds picked up as that day went on. But coming up this weekend, we have the 34th annual Spring in the Blues. Um and I think the weather is looking good for that so far. So hopefully um that'll be a great uh next festival in our uh festival season out here. Um, I also wanted to mention um that we recently lost one of our has to be one of our longest time residents. Uh, Marjorie Holloway uh was born in 1932 and she passed away um on March 24th, 2026. Um she was born and raised in Jacksonville Beach and um was very active in St. Andrew AM. She was also really active in the Roa El Martin Cultural Heritage Center um which is the former Jacksonville Beach Elementary Schoolhouse where she not only attended as a student but she was teacher there. Um so she went so far as to serve on the city of Jacksonville Beach's code enforcement board. So she was really committed um all the way through uh everything with our community and um she was just a beloved member of our community as well and her funeral is

going to be um next Saturday. So, if you are interested, it'll be at St. Andrew um am on Saturday morning. Um so, we're uh we'll say goodbye to her, but what a life well-lived. So, we appreciate all that she did for our community. Okay, any other announcements? Courtesy of the Florida visitors, I have one speaker card, Mr. Kevin Brown.

You know the drill. Kevin. Oh, the button.

Nightfall Drive, Neptune Beach, Florida. Um, I'm here because of um the special interest that we that all three cities have had in the proclamations of lights out for migrating birds. I would like to remind everybody um we need lights out for sea turtle season. Uh some numbers. Everybody likes numbers. Okay. Um just to give you the loggerhead number. Last year we had over a 100,000 loggerheads nest in the state of Florida. We also unfortunately had 4,700 excuse me 4,071 disorientations. real quick. What a disorientation is is when the emergence occurs, instead of the hatchlings going east, they go north or south and west into the dunes. All because of artificial light. Now, unfortunately, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but we had 18 disorientations in in Duvall. 11 of them were Jack's beach. 11 of them were from Seagate 20th to 16th. Now, how do I, you know, we need to do a better job. I always compliment y'all on your leadership and your support. You guys have never let me down. Never. And I am so appreciative of it. But we can do better. We have an ordinance. We have a compliance person, Mr. Knight. We always tell the people we send an email when we get a nest in the window, not a nest. We wait until it's in the window within a 10-day period of the 50

to 60 days. And we notify the compliance office. And then what I want I think we can do with the technology we have today is notify that that condo say you've got a nest in the window lights out. Now I will be happy to take anybody out. I took Councilwoman Golden last year. I can hold this up and look at any building and she was with me when we saw it. For example, Best Western, all the red lights. You can hold that up, see nothing. You can go down. We can hold this up to any lighted building and if it shows up green or blue, they're out of compliance. Okay, so these are the things that we use. It's not just me riding down in a cart or on my bike going, "That light's too bright. That light's too bright." This is handed out to us through FWC and the and Sea Turtle Ocean Conservancy to do things like this. So, what I asked tonight is I gave you a little numbers. I got plenty of numbers if anybody wants to talk. Okay? But we do a great job. We have a great culture here. These guys are our ambassadors. And like I always tell all the city government people I talk to, we sell this whole place on two natural things. That river and that beach and things like manatee, sea turtles, seagrasses, sand dunes, those are these guys are our ambassadors. Those guys give us this pristine this pristine quality of life out here. So, all I ask tonight is it's early. We're in April. We're in April. I'll be happy to work

with anybody and explain situations, but I think we can do a better job of light compliance, especially in Jack Speech. Because I'm going to tell you, there is nothing more distraught than following a nest and those little feet from Ocean Park all the way to the front of the of the lifeguard station and watching them go in a little bit at a time because there's no telling what they went through. Okay. Um, I thank you for your time. Please get with me. Anybody wants a ride, call me. I'll put you in the buggy. We'll go up and down the beach for a couple hours and I'll show you the the the mis compliant lights that y'all that we have. So, I would wish that y'all would take some time. Let's be proactive. All we got to do is communicate. I think it's all about communication. Thank you for your time.

Thanks, coach. That is our only courtesy of the floor. So, we'll move on to consent agenda. I move we approve the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Consent agenda is approved. Now we have two proclamations. We haven't had proclamation in a while, but I remembered my reading glasses. So that's exciting. So um one that we don't have we're not reading, but I signed recently was the water uh April is water conservation month. So, please um keep that in mind as you are updating your yard this spring. Um but I'm going to start with our uh national donate life month proclamation. Whereas Florida or Florida's organ tissue and eye donor registry is named for Joshua Abbott, the recipient of a lung transplant who passed away in 2006. Abbott's story so moved the Florida legislator legislature that in 2009, Florida's agency for healthcare administration chose Donate Life Florida to create a statewide donor registry to increase registry enrollment and educate Floridaidians about donation. And whereas donate life Florida is a nonprofit 501c3 charitable organization. And whereas established in 1997 as Florida coalition on donation incorporated, Donate Life Florida is dedicated to motivating flidity to designate themselves and or as organ tissue and eye donors so lives are saved and enhanced through donation and transplantation. And whereas today more than 5,000 patients listed at Florida transplant centers await life-saving organ transplants. Canon. Whereas many of these individuals may get a second chance of at life due to the generosity of those who designate themselves as organ tissue and eye donors on Florida's Florida's organ and tissue donor registry. And whereas more than 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving transplant, another person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes. Over 20 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donations. And whereas

Jacksonville is proud to be a hub for healthcare innovation and is fortunate to be home to multiple hospitals capable of performing organ transplant procedures, Jacksonville's diverse population brings the importance of awareness and need for life-saving transplant for many in our areas in our area. Whereas the city encourages all citizens to consider organ, eye, and tissue donation and engage in healthy habits to decrease the need for transplantation. And now therefore, be it resolved by the virtue of the authority vested in me as the mayor of the city of Jacksonville Beach, I, Christine Hoffman, hereby support Donate Life Florida and proclaim April 2026 as National Donate Life Month. And we have a representative here today with us um Kim De Palma um to accept this proclamation and she is here in honor and and in memory of her brother um who was lost tragically but was able to donate his organs um and saved three lives. So we thank you Kim um and your brother and your family for that selfless donation. So cute.

All right. One, two, three. All right. We're a little late to the game on this one, but we are joining our um sister cities to the north. Neptune and Atlantic Beach have already um announced this proclamation. I believe Jacksonville also did. So, we're we're rounding it out. Better late than never. This is the proclamation for our lights out Jacksonville Beach nights. Whereas the city of Jacksonville Beach is committed to fostering a safe environment for birds, promoting wildlife appreciation, and preserving our coastal bio biodiversity. And whereas our city serves as a vital stop for millions of birds navigating the Atlantic flyway, many of whom travel at night and rely on the moon and stars for guidance. And whereas bright artificial lights can disoriented disorient those migrating travelers leading to ex exhaustion or window collisions which cause significant bird mortality annually. And whereas turning off non-essential lights during peak migration periods is a simple yet powerful way for our residents and businesses to support ecosystem health and bird conservation. and whereas the city of Jacksonville Beach joins local conservation efforts to raise awareness and reduce light pollution for the safe passage of our migratory guests. Now therefore, be it resolved that by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Jacksonville Beach, I, Christine Hoffman, hereby proclaim March 15th through May 15, 2026 and September 15th and November 15th, 2026 as lights out Jacksonville Beach nights. And we have Elizabeth Filipelli here with us to accept the proclamation. And I think she's gonna say a few words as well.

Did you say you want I can speak? Okay. I never take I never say no. Oh, I think it's

Yep. All right. One, two, three.

All right. Hi everybody. I hate doing to your backs. Um, thank you very much. This is pretty monumental. Um, what you all don't know is Mayor Degan when she signed the lightsaw proclamation last year was the very first lights proclamation for birds in all of Florida. So, of course, I thought all the other mayors, not our mayors. I'm talking the ones down south. I was like, how come they're not calling Mayor Degan and saying, "What the heck?" Anyway, you guys beat them to the punch. I'm super grateful. But with me is a couple of our board members, Pete Johnson and Cape Zary. And I'm not going to cry, but I'll tell you what, we're on fire. We're going to be working with Kevin and Sea Turtle Conservancy. We're going to work really hard for environment where we can have wildlife and humans thriving. Wouldn't that be awesome? Thank you, kindly, for your time.

Thank you. Thank you for being here.

Okay, that's it for proclamations. Moving on to city manager, new business. Um, does anybody have an update on this one? League of Cities. I'll go ahead and unless the clerk wants to take. So, uh, my understanding is we have, uh, two of our elected officials that are eligible to attend the Florida League of Cities leadership class, which will take place May 14th and 15th in Orlando. And this is to see if any of those that are eligible would like to go and if so to receive appropriate approval from this council. If you are eligible and interested in attending, go ahead and turn your light on.

All right. We have council member Golding and Council Member Jansen. So, uh, if we can go ahead and make a motion to that effect. I make a motion to authorize the following elected officials to attend the Florida League of Cities Leadership Class May 14th and 15, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. Council member Golding and Councilman Jansen. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Mr. Jansen, your lights on. Just want to make sure. Okay. No discussion. Madam Clerk, roll call. Council member Golding. Yes. Council member Horn. Yes. Council member Jansen. Yes. Council member Sutton. Yes. Council member Wagner. Yes. Council member Waters. Yes.

Mayor Hoffman.

Yes. Motion carries. Thank you both for taking the initiative to further your leadership skills uh with the Florida League of Cities. That's great. Um we've got some exciting public art coming up. Miss Mobs. Good evening. Mayor and Council. Uh Taylor Mobs. I am here before you. It's been a minute since we've had some public art, so this is exciting. And we figured since it's been so long, rather than give you one, we will ask for approval of six. Um, so go big or go home. Uh, so before you've got six murals from six different local artists, um, in the call, we did stick to the three beaches and, um, all the candidates that you have before you are part of the three beach communities. In your packet, you received images of the renderings that the art committee and the CRA saw and voted on and approved. And since then, a few of the artists were able to actually uh take their renderings and kind of impose them over the dumpsters that they were awarded. Uh we we kind of worked with the artists and with the committee because each of the dumpsters are kind of angled a little bit different. And so we really tried to look at what the artwork was, what it represented, and how would fit best on each dumpster. Um so I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you. Uh a motion, please. I move we approve an agreement with the following artists for the following dumpster locations. Michael Kulit for 10th Avenue South. Josh Ferris for 9th Avenue South. Deborah McKini for 9th Avenue South and zone. Natalie Pearson for 8th Avenue South and zone. Beth Hazes for 7th Avenue South. Russell Wilson for 6th Avenue South. Second. We have a motion and a second. Mr. Waters.

Thank you, Mayor Taylor. I'm not sure if I should direct this question to you, but I was wondering if the council would consider dumpsters that are not load located in the CRA or I know one that is constantly being graffitied over there by um Gonzalez Park and because it seems like these graffiti artists respect artwork.

We've had good luck thus far. I'll say that. Knock on wood. Um, so while it's something that, you know, to that to your point, it's not something the CRA could necessarily do, something we've actually had some internal discussions on and I'd be happy to help with, um, we've got a list of a lot of local artists. So, if and when the city council ever did decide they wanted to extend some art pieces outside the CRA district, I would be happy to help provide um, all the names and portfolios that we've collected. Thank you, Miss Bumps.

Yeah, of course. I'm really glad to see some really familiar names on here and I think some well-known um local artists and some that have participated in other places. Beth Haslip Heslip just did the mural at Beam in their garden. So um I think it's going to be neat to see the local tiein there. What's the plan for? How long are they expected to last and what's the maintenance plan?

So we'll do a little bit of a scaled down version of what we've done on our larger ones. on the larger ones. Our contract we've usually got with artist is for like a full year and we usually request because they have been such larger items that they kind of carry the cost of any maintenance associated for that full year. Uh with this one, what we will ask them for is the colors that they utilize and make sure we have on record, you know, what those colors are. So, should something get dented or chipped, um I'll be able to work with our maintenance team and my friends at Parks and Wreck and we will be able to get out there. if the artist isn't available, you know, we'll make sure we have the ability to repair them. Again, these are murals usually you can get about five years out of um at the beach. When we first started them, we were told we would be lucky to see two or three and I'm happy to report that we've got one now that's surpassed that and it still looks beautiful, the one on the Cape Building. So, knock on we've had a lot of good luck. Um we do ask all of our artists to use a professional coating that is going to help against some of the elements we face. And again, thus far, we've had a lot of luck. So, we'll try to kind of stick with that method and work with the artists um should we need repairs.

I also want to say that I appreciate that we're fairly paying or compensating the artists. I think that's something a lot of people I think artists just want to come out and do it for fun and these are professional artists that are are paying bills just like the rest of us. So, I I'm really glad that we're doing that and doing that in the right way. Any other questions or comments? Madam clerk, roll call. Council member Horn. Yes. Council member Jansen. Yes. Council member Sutton. Yes. Council member Wagner. Yes. Council member Wowers. Yes. Council member Olding. Yes. Mayor Hoffman. Yes. Motion carries. You want to hop on over to item C?

Yes. Uh so this one will be um I just want to be very clear. We're going to uh talk about appointing someone from the council to serve on the P3 selection committee. that person will serve along with staff and then one CRA board member vice chair Kevin Myers was selected um I said at the CRA meeting you know just to have it on the record that all we're going to discuss is appointing a person uh and any details of project related will all go to procurement um so again I'm happy to help uh you know any questions you may have and uh anything technical I will direct you to procurement thank you and Mr. your city manager.

Thank you, mayor. Um, just wanted to add in on this one in particular that the motion reads very specifically that you're selecting a counselor to serve as the city's city council's representative. The reason we did that is we understand that there's an election that's coming up in November. There's the possibility that we have some council members that are terming off or that may not be here as we get to the end of the process. We wanted to let council know that if you select an individual, you can put whatever conditions you want onto that position. Uh if the person that you select is the person that you would like to be quote the council's representative through the entire process, that person could be such and even go beyond the elections in November as necessary or even if they stepped off of council, they would still be quote your representative. So um with that, the floor is yours.

Thank you for adding that clarification. I really like that, Mr. Sutton. Oh. Um, yes. Ready to open the floor for nominations, Mr. Sutton. Uh, I'd like to nominate Councilwoman Golding uh to serve as our representative um throughout the process. I'd like to second that. Thank you. Any other nominations? All right. Uh, can we have a motion or do you I guess do you accept the nomination? All right. Let me check check at the other end of the dance real quick. All right. Uh, can we have a motion to that effect?

Yes. I move to approve councelor Goldley to serve as the city council's represented by the review committee for the public private partnership project RFP number 01-2526. Second. We have a motion and a second. Madame clerk or any discussion? I just want to say thank you for your willingness. I I'm assuming you're going to get the vote. Um this is a really really important project and um I'm glad that we're going to have some collaboration with the city council as well well as the CRA as we move forward. Um at a clerk roll call. Council member Jansen. Yes. Council member Sutton. Yes. Council member Wagner. Yes. Council member Wowers. Yes. Council member Golding. Yes. Council member Horn. Yes.

Mayor Hoffman.

Yes. Motion carries. Item D. Beaches Energy Me Council. My name is Wayne Hughes, Beaches Energy Superintendent here to approve or disapprove bid 2526-0 for the flame retardant clothing. This clothing is used to protect the the men and women that serve our community. Um the line workers use it meter shop engineering relay you know all of our departments uses clothing to extinguish the arc if in event that is one we had two biders we had perfect fit Image and Wayne Enterprises perfect Image was the the lowest bid just over $71,000.

All right. Can we have a motion on item one? I move we award bid number 2526-04 to Perfect Fit Image Apparel for the purchase of Flame Clothing for Beach and Energy Services. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion or questions for Mr. Hughes? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, roll call. Council member Sutton, yes. Council member Wagner, yes. Council member Wowers, yes. Council member Golding, yes. Council member Horn, yes. Council member Jansen. Yes. Mayor Hoffman. Yes. Mo motion carries. Item two. I move authorize the mayor and city manager to negotiate and execute any contract as a result of this bid award.

Second. We have motion in a second. Mr. Hughes. You got to We got to get all the way through them. It was the little wave at the end that had me calling you back in. I'm sorry. I just couldn't let it go. Okay. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on item two? Madam clerk, roll call. Council member Wagner, yes. Council member Waters, yes. Council member Golding, yes. Council member Horn, yes. Council member Jansen, yes. Council member Sutton, yes. Mayor Hoffman, yes. Motion carries. Sweet. Item three,

I move to delegate authority to the city manager to approve and execute all subsequent contract renewals through the maximum the maximum contract term. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Madame clerk, roll call. Council member Waters, yes. Council member Balding, yes. Council member Horn, yes. Council member Jansen, yes. Council member Sutton, yes. Council member Wagner, yes. Mayor Hoffman, yes. Motion carries. Thank you very much, Mr. Hughes. All right, moving on to resolutions. We have Ocean Rescue Junior Lifeguard Program. Come on up, Casey.

Casey Donald, Jack Beach Ocean Rescue. Um, I'm here to uh propose that we increase the price of Junior Lifeard Camp from $200 to $300 to better align with comparable programs that we like summer camps in the summer on the beach. Um, our camp is 5 days long. It's 8:30 to 3 in the afternoon. So, it's a full day camp compared to a lot of the surf camps are half day or four days long. Uh, we have to staff five lifeguards a day. So, we have a low student uh to instructor ratio for safety. We have 24 kids a week. Um we do six weeks, three in June and three in July. And um we also are increasing we let them take home a rash card and we're giving them a water bottle and just the costs are going up and compared to the other camps we're just not keeping up. So that is what I propose.

Thank you. Can I have a motion? I move we adopt resolution 2208-2026 establishing rates, charges, and fees for the Ocean Rescue Junior Lifeguard Program.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Miss Golding. Thank you. Um, couple of questions. Can you let us share with everyone what are the ages that are able to participate in the junior lifeguard camp? Yeah, currently uh well last summer it was 9 to 13, but we're increasing it to 9 to 14 because we try to keep that pipeline of guys that want to become lifeguards. Uh we don't take 15 year olds because some of the instructors can be 16 and just like give them a year off before they want to come work for us. Um and then with that being said, their first day they do undergo a swim test. So if it's a nine-year-old who's not a very strong swimmer, we do give them a full refund and and let them go home.

Okay. And um do you have anything in place like if there were some kids that wanted to attend but they couldn't afford the cost? Do we have any way to accommodate kids like that? Currently we do not but um that is something we could look into doing. Would I'm not sure how we would pick them or something, you know, but we could.

Yeah. I just think that would be really good. And the other thing I was thinking was like I I talked to Jason about it maybe promoting it to to the Carver Center so that some of the kids there at the Carver Center that maybe don't know that we have these camps going on, you know, if they would be interested, you know, make sure and Jason had mentioned that that you guys would be looking into that to try to promote it to to them as well. So hopefully that's something that that we can do going forward. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Mr. Roberts.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you, Councilwoman Golding, because my thoughts are running along those lines. This might be unaffordable for some kids in our community. And um I hope that we can explore the possibilities and make funds available to help kids who may not otherwise be able to attend, but want to attend. And lastly, let me ask you, um sir, do you have enough pool of applicants? Do you turn people away? because I'm just wondering if we might not have a full house because of the expense.

Uh yeah, we every year we sell out the entire camp and we have people already asking to go to it. Um and based on you know like the Aqua East Surf Shop camp that runs uh at Seagate Avenue or the Thompson Surf Camp that runs at 6th Avenue South, they're already sold out for the summer and they charge more than us for a half day. So, I don't anticipate any problem getting the camp to fill up, especially if uh parents really like the time frame because it's all the way until 3 p.m., right? That sounds like a great program. And uh just for my edification, uh when can a person apply and when are the decisions made? Who gets in?

Oh, for the camp. Um, so after this, I mean it'll go live on the it's like an online application on the parks and recck website, but then they have to go physically in person to parks and recreation to pay for the camp. And so your spot isn't guaranteed until you pay. So it's first come, first serve to come and go pay at parks and rec. Thank you so much. Mr. Wagner,

I tell you, I'm so encouraged by the DAS today. Um, I really when uh councelor Golden came up and was talking about those folks in our community that may not be able to afford this and then councelor Wilder the same thing. It was the same reason that I had turned on my light. We we are so blessed to have such a an incredibly diverse small community and that diversity is also socioeconomic and um and so I do think that um I very much support this program. I support the request, but I really do want us to have a yet but for real and to explore a certain number of scholarships. Um particularly for those folks if you think about um the diverse nature of people within our community, we know there are parts of our population that have struggled with learning how to swim. um has and so um this of course is a great opportunity for those that that may be passionate about the beach and swimming to be able to really start to firm that up and going to high school with the first African-American lifeguard at the at the beaches. You know, that's a that's was really encouraging and uh I want to see us continue that legacy and that trend um and make sure that we have a really diverse group of folks that we're attracting to the to the community there.

Yeah. Uh so historically the camp creator uh George Paul who some of you may know uh we used to do a shorter week around the 4th of July because obviously families are traveling for 4th of July. We had trouble filling that one up but we always partnered with the uh police athletic league and that camp was free to the the they brought a group of kids and it was a little bit shorter and we kind of toned it down and catered it more towards a crowd who wasn't going to be very proficient in the water and stuff like that. um ever since I think it co we stopped uh we didn't have camp that year of co and then when we started gearing it back up we didn't have the staffing um but it is something historically like I mean George Paul is very familiar with setting something like that up and we could look to do that with the Carver Center is definitely within our wheelhouse

I think that's a great solution versus trying to come up with another category um especially at this time because we're kind of late honestly in getting um summer camps out um but I would also think another great potential partner for helping maybe fund more of a scholarship would be the VLSC because this is right in line with their mission as well. Speaking of which, Mr. Horn?

Yeah, just actually knowing what I know about I I would love to see you guys pursue some EMS grants. I know there's a lot of funding out there for um not only EMS programs, but then, you know, water safety programs. There are a lot of those and this would be a relative, I think, low bar to get across um if we were able to do that. And yeah, I would love to see obviously we're not going to be able to do it for this year. It'll be a struggle, you know, because we're right coming up on the season, but uh for next year kind of look at that. I think that, you know, I'll be happy to help with any any way I can because I know there are a lot of there's a huge um drowning is one of the most preventable causes of death around the world and there are a lot of lot of programs around that are um happy to help fund system like that.

Thank you. And um I just want to say I have had some friends kids go through this program and it is so popular and it's I mean I fully support going up in price because it is the best deal around by a long shot especially like you said the fact that it goes all day um almost all day. Um but it is they are pretty much spring break is when the parents start their Excel spreadsheets of where their kids are going to go all summer. So, u I think you'll still fill it up no problem, but you might see with the big price increase, you might see that soften a little bit. So, I think that that would be a good time to like really evaluate, you know, our our people either are you booking it out or are we putting going on a wait list or, you know, whatever. See how the price increase affects that. But, um I it's a great program. I hear nothing but wonderful things. So, thank you guys for keeping that going. Um any other questions or comments? Madam Clerk, roll call. Council member Golding.

Yes. Council member Horn, yes. Council member Jansen, yes. Council member Sutton, yes. Council member Wagner, yes. Council member Wowers, yes. Mayor Hoffman, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. All right, get that bad boy up on the website. Start filling that summer camp. No, sorry. Just now that you got the rates approved, sorry, I wasn't asking you to update a website from here. CFO Gossit.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Ashley Gossit, CFO. The resolution for you tonight is the midyear budget adjustment. Uh we are required by state ch statute to modify our budget in the same manner that it was originally adopted. So that's why this is a resolution. Um the majority of the items had been before council earlier in the year, but I wanted to call out the item that's on the face of the memo for the cost of natural gas. Um we are on kind of track to exceed our annual budget in the cost of natural gas this year because we had a spike in pricing in January with the winter storm firm. Um so we reran our projections uh and we're asking to adjust the budget by $820,000 to finish out the year. Um and I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Thank you. Let's go ahead and have the motion. I move we adopt resolution number 2211-2026 amending the operating budget of the city of Jacksonville Beach, Florida for the fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2025 and ending September 30th, 2026. Second. We have a motion and a second. Mr. Jansen. Yes. just um for the benefit of of our listeners and and maybe some of the guys can the uh the hedge funding that we have going on with the natural gas, how's that going in relationship to the spike in the and the prices of

So, actually, I was just reviewing that this afternoon. Um so, the council approved um a hedging program and the city had an opportunity to hedge 50% of our natural gas um scheduled decaththerms from September through to March. And so in this period of time, we actually had 50% of our load hedged and it was at it was hedged at $3.50 a decim. And some days in January, pricing spiked up to $50 a dec. So had we not had that hedge in place, this would have been a much higher number. So that was a very good program to get involved with. Huh. Yeah. So we hedge for budget certainty, but this time it really paid off financially.

Very good. Very good. Uh I I commend Beaches Energy and especially Adam Pton for uh really looking into this and bringing this program on board. It's a huge benefit to our our community. And I know we're sitting at 50% and I don't know what the exact number is. That's for for you guys to figure out, but sometimes you look at and think, should we be hedging more or or less, you know? So, um so good work and good work to Beaches Energy and thank you, Mr. Wilders.

Uh thank you, Mayor. Oh, thank you, Director Gosset, because our prior discussion we had earlier. Um, I'm glad this is like an expanded answer on what I got previously. I want to thank Councilman Jansen for bringing this up because I thought we were protected about this, but now as I understand, we were protected, but it went exceeded the coverage we had. Yes, sir. Okay. That that helps. I really appreciate you, director. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Madam Clerk, roll call. Council member Horn, yes. Council member Jansen, yes. Council member Sutton, yes. Council member Wagner, yes. Council member Wowers,

yes. Council member Golding, yes. Mayor Hoffman,

yes. Motion carries. Moving on to ordinances. Do we want to have a staff report first? Miss Mobs, she's coming right back in after spring break vacation. jump in with a couple items on the agenda. Uh good evening again. Uh before you you guys have ordinance number 20268233 and that will hold ordinance number 4512 uh dating all the way back to 1946. Um and section 71 and 72 of the code of ordinances in advance. And this is to allow us to establish a two-year pilot program to activate uh the boardwalk and be able to permit and have short-term popup events and activities um along our beautiful boardwalk. This pilot program, like I said, will be for two years. Um and at any time during that, we can reevaluate and reassess if we see that something isn't working or we want to make some modifications. And I'm happy to answer any questions. the resolution that will adopt the actual pilot program will be with the next uh the second reading of the ordinance. So, it is not in the packet um tonight.

Thank you. And uh Madame Clerk, will you read the ordinance by title, please? An ordinance of the city of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, holding ordinance number 45121 1946 and section 7-1 and 7-2 of the city code of ordinances in obeyance in their entirety. authorizing the establishment of a pilot program to allow activation and events on the boardwalk from Beach Boulevard to 6th Avenue North, providing for duration and expiration, providing for severability, scrier's errors, and effective date. Thank you. This ordinance is before the council for a public hearing and consideration on its first reading. I will now open the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-8233. We do not have any public comment cards on this item. Is there anyone from the audience that would like to speak in favor of or against this ordinance? Mr. Bradock, come on up. Give us your name and address and I'll give you three minutes to speak.

Uh Mark Bradock, 16001 forest, Neptune Beach. Actually didn't really have much to say about this, but I'm really glad that it's finally happening. Um, I've always wanted to expand the 904 popup down the boardwalk and reactivate the boardwalk. Um, maybe even connect it with the pier, if you will. Um, I know we've talked about it a few times. So, I'm grateful that it's finally happening and um, can't wait to see it come to fruition. So, thank you guys.

Thank you, Mr. Bradock. Anyone else like to speak? Okay, the public hearing is closed. Can I have a motion? I move we approve ordinance number 2026-8233 on the first reading holding ordinance number 4512 subcategory 1946 and section 71 and 72 of the city code of ordinances in obeyance and there entirely and authorizing the establishment of a pilot program to allow activation and events on the boardwalk from Beach Boulevard to 6th Avenue North and schedule a second reading for April 20th, 2026.

Second We have a motion and a second. And just so the audience knows, we did have a very extensive discussion on this item at a um prior council briefing. So appreciate staff putting that together for us, giving an opportunity to kind of flesh out what this might look like. Miss Golding.

Uh thank you. So, um I talked with um our city attorney today and just wanted to bring up a an obser observation I guess in and a slight concern that I have um because in reading both of the like the ordinance 4512 and then section 71 of our code, they both reference boundaries um like 20th Avenue North to 6th Avenue North, 6th Avenue North to 3rd Avenue South, 3rd Avenue South to 25th Avenue South, 25th Avenue South to the south boundary. So basically, as I understand it, um they they are currently prohibiting construction and conducting of business in those areas. My concern is that the obeyance of these of the code is basically opening it up for these other areas where we're not really intending to allow conducting of business and construction. Um I think our intent is just to activate the area between 6th Avenue North and Beach. And so I I'm thinking that we need to make that very clear that the availance only applies to 6th Avenue North to Beach. So, I would move to amend the to amend the motion such that the advance only applies to to the prohibitions on operating or conducting business activities or concessions of any kind or nature in the areas between 6th Avenue North and Beach Boulevard. There's a motion to amend. Is there a second? Seeing none, amendment fails. Any other comments? or did you want to respond to that though just since it's

certainly and and as councelor Goldie mentioned her and I discussed this today I think there's other mechanisms already in place that that would uh protect the city and prohibit those activities from happening even if there's a complete bayance uh nonetheless I think her her ordinance excuse me her proposed amendment to the motion to this proposed ordinance um would firm it up even more. So, I think it's it's a good idea, but I you know, I think the way the ordinance was originally drafted is also good. So, it's it's the preference of the council of how you would like to proceed. Um it's it firms up the language even even tighter. So, it's it's it's positive in that in that fashion. So, I'll gladly answer any questions anyone has.

Thank you, Mr. Waters. Well, there was a couple things that uh come to my mind, but sticking on this topic. Um, please forgive me for being ignorant, but when I see the 25 ft, I mean, we all understand that we have to have the emergency vehicle right away. Does does the 25 ft is that from the where the seaw wall is to the west or Councilwoman Golding, do you understand that what that 25 ft actually represents? Is that the the the the width of the boardwalk or should I ask Mike?

Yeah, I'm happy to take that one. So, um the width of the boardwalk is that larger number. Um but in the ordinance, I believe we reference it twice and it's referenced several times in the subsequent resolution that you guys will receive. Um that at a minimum uh we shall ensure continued access for emergency vehicles and the general public. And so what that'll look like um in the resolution and then as part of any applicant's application, they will have to sign and acknowledge that you know when you're standing on the boardwalk and you see kind of in most of the boardwalk that center concrete line um everything to the west of that will be basically fair game. So they can set up in that area and then that leaves the complete um eastern side open for emer emergency vehicle access or pedestrian traffic.

Thank you. That's reassuring. Yeah. And then I had two other questions basically. So is this meant to be 365 for two years? In theory, yes. Um again, we will kind of look at this um a lot like we look at festivals. You know, obviously when we're going to have a major event weekend or we already have a a large event scheduled or something, we're not going to double up and put extra work and extra strain on our emergency, you know, personnel and our staff. Um so we will treat it kind of case by case just like we do events right now. Okay. So it will be in in you know allowable during hurricane season and so forth.

Yes. Within you know if someone has an approved permit let's say for a popup event and then I'm not even going to say the word but we get noticed that we have some something coming our way. We will then work with whoever's putting on the event and recommend that they not do that. All right. And then when I was looking at section four of the ordinance uh where it says um prior to the expiration of the pilot program, city council shall conduct a review based on feedback from various people.

So is there any specific time when we will do a review or is it just whenever we feel like it? Yeah, I would think uh what would be appropriate unless we're directed by the council otherwise would be maybe at the one-year mark to have a briefing where we kind of bring feedback that we've received um from the internal team and the external stakeholders on how the program is functioning and we can kind of compile all that data and feedback for you guys and bring it to you at the one-year mark. Okay. Well, I hope if necessary we can do it prior in case of you know problems we don't anticipate.

Sure. Absolutely. you know, the flexibility with a pilot program is if we get three events in and there seems to be a glaring issue that all three events, let's say, have faced um and they bring those to us, then that's something that we can easily turn around and reflect and and correct. Well, just for the record, I I'm hopeful that it'll be a positive thing for our community and our and our people come here to enjoy our beach. Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Waters, Mr. Jansen.

Uh for M for maybe just a comment for uh Mr. Meet. Uh and notwithstanding what uh council member Golding said because I agree with her that this needs to be uh isolated to 6th Avenue North to uh I mean from Beach Boulevard to 67 Avenue North when I read the ordinance since there's not a break in the sentence as one complete sentence. I feel like it does cover the the direct um area outlining beach garden 600 north. Yeah, there's not a stop in a sentence or that might, you know, indicate for somebody else that, well, let me look at my area of the the beach because it specifically states right there. So, um, I think it's pretty firm at what it says.

Thank you, Mr. Jansen, Mr. Wagner.

Thank you. Um, of course, my throat gets all froggy right at that time. Um, just kind of revisit some of the comments during the briefing session where we discussed this and just really encourage us to take advantage of doing this kind of during the week and off weekend cycles and really look at ways to not only help activate the the the beach community in in that area, but doing it at days and times that are um that would really help benefit those organizations. And we've seen such amazing success with the program you guys have brought in on our uh our market during the week and and it's just been a fabulous experience. So I think leveraging some of those lessons learned will be really a great opportunity for us. So thank you very much for being such a good leader on this.

Yeah, absolutely. And we'll continue to work closely with our parks and recreation department because they're a huge help to none of this would happen without their help. So

thank you. And just anyone who hasn't necessarily looked at this packet, I think the first part of it is was written on a typewriter. So, we are really screaming ahead here in uh Jacksonville Beach. So, this is long overdue. Thank you, Mr. Bradock, for your comments. This is something um that those of us who kind of see the potential and the opportunity here um with activating the boardwalk and making a really positive um asset to our community, I think this is going to be a great step. Um, and we'll have a a second reading on this one on April 20th. Any other questions or comments? Madam Clerk, roll call. Council member Jansen, yes. Council member Sutton, yes. Council member Wagner, yes. Council member Wowers, yes. Council member Golden, yes. Council member Horn,

yes. Mayor Hoffman, yes. The motion carries. Our next ordinance, I'll turn it over to city attorney.

Thank you, Mayor. This um this ordinance relates to the proposed food truck rally pilot program that we've discussed at a few briefings over the past year. Um two minor changes since our last briefing based on the feedback from that briefing. I just want to update um you all on is that we did clarify what was already the intent but to make sure it was clear in the ordinance that a food truck rally will be limited to a single day. Uh it cannot be a multi-day program. Uh, and then additionally, we changed the the draft language on tables and chairs from um at least 50 down to at least 20. Um, so those are are the changes and I know we have a public hearing process, but um I'm available at any time during your consideration this matter to uh discuss any of this in more detail.

Thank you, madam clerk. Will you read the ordinance by title, please? An ordinance of the city of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, amending chapter 12, streets, food, and food products by creating section 12-34, establishing a food truck rally pilot program in the central business district, providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances, severability, codification, and an effective date.

Thank you. This ordinance is is before the council for a public hearing and consideration on its first reading. I will now open the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-8234. I do not have any speaker cards on this item. Would anyone from the audience like to speak in favor of or in opposition to this ordinance? Seeing none, public hearing is closed. May I have Oh, come on up. Mark, you picked a good meeting to come to. I know. I got a good heads up. Um, I'm kind of

Just state your name and address again for the record. I'm sorry. Mark Bradock 16014 stab Neptune Beach. Kind of unfamiliar with the food truck pilot process or the rally. Um is that something that has been obviously coordinated with all of the restaurants in the corridor to make sure nobody ruffles feathers I guess when that happens. And who's going to be doing it? Is it going to be like a city thing like the J Beach Country Fest? Would it be like a Jack's Beach food truck rally or something like that? I'm not sure how we address questions during public comment, but should I go ahead and do the motion and then we can answer?

That's okay. Okay. Any other questions or comments? No. Other than that, um, look forward to seeing it come to fruition again. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Bradock. Anybody else? Seeing no other comments from the audience, public hearing is closed. Can I have a motion? I move we approve ordinance number 2026-8234 on the first reading amending chapter 12 streets food and food products by creating section 12-34 establishing a food truck rally pilot program in the central business district and schedule a second reading for April 20th, 2026. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Thank you. Um, and we did have, this is another item that we had probably two, maybe two or three discussions at um, council briefings, but I'm going to let um, our city attorney answer some of your questions and I think probably members of the day as can provide a little more insight as well.

Thank you, mayor. So, um, these events would be allowed only in the central business district up to once per calendar quarter under this proposed ordinance. And then to keep um to keep the application process fair um and it's generally governed by the special event policy with some with some exceptions spelled out in the ordinance, but to make sure it's fair and open to to any anyone who wants to take charge on this, for lack of a better phrase, um applications would open the first day of the calendar quarter preceding the calendar quarter in which someone wants to hold an event. So, to put that in more layman's terms, currently there's a 90-day deadline for filing for special events applications. And that would be disadvantageous to say someone who wanted to hold something on September 30th, which is the last day of a calendar quarter. Um, because someone, if we were to use that approach, someone who wants to do something on July 30th, could apply before that other person even gets a chance and then that calendar quarter spot is filled up. instead um if my math in my head calendar math special kind of math is correct on April 1st of that year which is the first day of the calendar quarter preceding the calendar quarter in my hypothetical um anyone who wants to try to hold a food truck rally um could apply for July 1 through September 30th. So, so it is once per calendar quarter but set up in a way that everyone who who wants to try to put on such an event has equal opportunity to apply. Um, I think that's what the questions were asked, but if I missed anything, I'd be happy to add if anyone brings it to my attention.

I think Mr. Ragner might have some additional insight.

Thank you. So, um, this, uh, proposal was brought to us by, uh, business owners within the central business district as something for us to explore and and potentially consider, uh, as a pilot, uh, based on a lot of the most current uh, uh, literature that's out there around these type of events. And so, historically, when you talk about food truck events, people say, "What about the negative impact to restaurants and those type of things?" and uh more advanced uh um areas that have have have have really adopted these type of things based on uh following the trends and the impacts to the community show about a 10 to 15% traffic lift within the within the established businesses. So it by bringing in a new influx of people there is not a detraction from the existing businesses but it actually drives people to the businesses um because they want to do additional things and and and you know there's usually a limited amount of food at the food truck. So this allows uh for folks that have other needs to go into the the restaurants. There's an expanded need to both restaurants and retail and that's been proven then and written in article after article. Um the fact that some of the owners of these uh establishments or people behind kind of driving this pilot or trying to promote this pilot has really been one of those things that kind of proves that point. They in and of themselves surveyed about eight different business owners representing 18 different businesses within the community. 100% of them said yes. There was a request to survey some more. I didn't really put that out there. I felt that that was a pretty broad um group of businesses and and so we but we had some people that wanted it, some people thought we were fine and you know I felt like after three surveys and going back and forth with the business owners a bunch of times that we had kind of punished them enough and that um you know let them you know we'll let let this kind of handle on the

merits of it and and see see if it passes through the uh the opportunity to vote on it. But I personally think it's a a neat opportunity. It's not overly intrusive. It gives enough examples of something to be able to see how it's going to impact us as a community. And like any other pilot, if it's something that creates a negative experience or something along those lines, we always have the opportunity to to uh you know, change our direction on it. But I you know, personally think it's a great idea. Thank you, Mr. Wagner. Miss Golding.

Um, thank you. So, I in our briefings that we had had, I'd asked um if there had been any communication with the brickandmortar restaurants in the central business district and um I think both times I was told that that there wasn't. No, that's not true.

Okay. Well, there was not any I asked if there w had been and there was not anything conveyed to me about any brickandmortar restaurants that have been communicated. But so my concern is that that there is a communication issue there because you know I'm looking at the businesses that were pulled and you know the businesses were Beachside Swimwear, Best Western, Bricks, Ritz, I guess Lemon Bar, I don't know, maybe just because he's the owner. The Tavern, The Wreck, Salt Life, Surfer, the Bar, uh, Mangoes Lies, um, Hot Tinger, Surf and Skate Shop, Surf and Skate Shop, Seashells and Coral Shop, and then Deck the Chairs. And when I look at that list, the only brick and mortar restaurant that I see is Surfer the Bar. And so I waited to see if there was any additional information that had been provided about any conversations with brick and mortar restaurants, but I haven't been able to get that information. So I did talk to a brick and mortar restaurant in the downtown area and they did not know anything about this. And so my concern is this. I don't want us to have a urban trails 2.0 O issue where we have brick and mortar restaurants because I'm looking at we in the downtown area we've got V's Pizza Oku Sushi, Ajura Mexican, Jack Spice, Wajaka, Seismores, Sneakers, Kuravas, and Lynches. All of those are all of those are restaurants. Well, Lynches is a bar and a restaurant. My concern is this. I don't want us to approve this and then have the brickandmortar restaurants come back and say we didn't know anything about this. That's what we had happen with the urban trail. And you know that's that's something that we

don't want to have happen. We want to be communicating. Um and I and you know I know some of some of you some of my colleagues on the council were not here when the food truck ordinance was passed several years ago. I know the mayor was and we did have several brickandmortar restaurants come out and express concerns. Um, and the the restaurant owner that I talked to today shared the same concerns because they have requirements. Brick and mortar businesses have requirements that the the food trucks don't have. Um, and so I just feel like we are we are not doing what we should be doing when it comes to communication if we do not communicate with the brick and mortar restaurants. The the restaurant owner that I spoke to said, "Well, can somebody just can the city send something to all the businesses in the downtown and let them know that this is being proposed so that the businesses at least know about it?" I know our parks and recck department has always done a really good job in the past when we were uh you know going to be making changes to our um parks to communicate to the to the neighbors in the area and let them know that we're going to be having a meeting about updating this park and we encourage you to come to the meeting so that we can get your input on it. Again, you know, I'm just saying from the experience that we've had so far, and we all want to do a better job of communicating. I'm concerned that we have not done what needs to be done to communicate with the brickandmortar restaurants. If they support it, that's great. I mean, that just means good. Let's move forward with this. But if they have concerns, we need to hear that. And I'm concerned that we have not

communicated with the brick and mortars and I don't want us to pass this and then have brick and mortar restaurants come to us and say, "How did this happen?" I can go ahead and offer to email my downtown business owner list and just give them kind of a snapshot of this and let them know it's coming up for a second reading and um maybe refer them to Councilman Wagner if that's okay for any specific questions. just though I think I you're right there's no reason not to inform. Um but I do think we can survey kind of to death and I think that this is a very cautious program just like food trucks when it passed in 2013 we put a toe in the water. So um I think it'll be interesting to see um see where this goes especially with the constraints that we've put on it which I think are are very reasonable. And I and I'm not saying to serve any survey anything to death. I am talking about communication. I'm talking about the thing that we keep saying we need to do better. That's that's my caution on this. Right.

That's I I'm sorry. I am agreeing with you. I'm I will inform them, but I'm not necessarily going to solicit feedback other than in the form of questions that I'll I'll defer to Councilman Lard. You still have your light on. Did you have a revisit? No. Okay.

All right. Mr. I just wasn't I mean is Councilman Wagner is there anything you can expand upon? I mean I don't know if it if if we don't have the true brick and mortars and again I know we had discussed we had communicated but if we're not Yeah. I mean do we need to postpone this or just wait a week or two to for the mayor to send her um her communication out and get some feedback?

Yeah, I I don't have a problem with waiting. Um, some of the business at least one of the businesses on councelor Golding's list was actually the person who proposed the proposal. So, um, so there's at least one at least that one. I think Hot Tangers is actually a restaurant. Um, I I think it's definitionally we probably have some definitional differences on what's a restaurant, what's not a restaurant. And so I think for that we can just agree to kind of disagree on it. But there's, you know, I I would I would take um I would be cautious to accept the fact that we did not do a bricks and mortar rush. I think that's an inappropriate representation. Um a b request was to survey. It wasn't to communicate with and I actually think to communicate with is a fabulous idea. Um I'm kind of a little disappointed that we missed that or I missed that. But the request was to survey and so that's that was what I didn't want to do more of. I thought we had kind of done enough and that 18 different businesses being representative I thought was far uh far surpassed anything that I've seen us do to this point. So um I I felt we were in relatively decent shape. I know that the folks that have done that have also talked to other businesses that weren't on that original list based on

Thank you, Mr. Wagner. Mr. Horn just to say and historically we'll do the first reading and then the next reading will be the the final. I would just want to make sure that we can get the information that we need within that time period. And if the rest of the day is feels that we can we can get the information then I you know we don't have to hold anything off. I just want to make sure that because I know we already have an agenda that's busy for the next briefing.

I don't know how much time we'll have to maybe this could be something that's distributed uh to the group uh responses that the mayor receives and be distributed by the city manager uh in that fashion. I just want to make sure that we all get the information prior to I agree that yeah urban anything else that we are not communicating with the citizens about um want to make sure that we're doing our due diligence um even the the perception of not doing it correctly because again oftentimes we will do it correctly but if somebody on social media or somebody sees somebody somewhere and says hey x y and z and then you know you play a game of telephone and at the end you get different opinions. So, okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Horn. Mr. Jansen. Yes. Real quick, more of a consolation price. The good news at the end of the day is this is only the first reading. We have a second reading that's coming up. So, we do have some time. Number one. Number two, um Mr. Meette, uh this is also a a pilot program. So, should we uh run into some hiccups along the way, let's just say this makes it past the the second reading and 3 months later we've got bigger problems that we anticipated or um reversing this pilot program. What does that entail?

Just like any other ordinance, you all could later decide uh to make changes. Because it's an ordinance, it would require two readings. But we also do have a a language in this ordinance because it's a pilot program that um this program absent other action of council this program will expire on January 1, 2029. Now that doesn't mean we can't do anything to it before then. Uh you can still amend it, change it however you see fit going through the ordinance process before then. All right. Thank you, sir. That was just for the benefit of our folks up there and the council. Counciloman Waters.

Thank you, Mayor. Sorry, there's a lot to take in here. I do appreciate Councilwoman Golding's comments about effective communication and Councilman Horn and um I think we could all agree we could do better and I without pointing out any specifics, but um well, Councilman Horn, just I'm not sure I understood your comments. Are you comfortable moving forward with the first vote and then have time for feedback for the second reading? I am. I'm comfortable. Miss Golding revisit.

Uh yes. In in followup to the discussion, I if if the mayor is going to send out information to the businesses that are in the downtown area to all the businesses, I I I would like to recommend that we defer this the first reading to the next city council meeting to give time for the communication to go out so that those businesses if they do have questions, comments, or concerns can come to the city council meeting on the first reading. Um not wait till the second reading because second reading then you know if there's any tweaking that needs to be done. A lot of times we do that between first and second reading. Um it just it gives those businesses one reading and that's it to to be able to weigh in if they have any input. So, I would make a motion that we would defer this to the next city council meeting. We have a is defer the right word or continue or

I think any of them work legally. Okay. We have a motion to defer. Is there a second? Second. Uh, we have a second. Uh, discussion on deferring to the next city council meeting, city attorney. I think you just said after I put my light on what I was just going to clarify. So, this would bring this item back two weeks from today for the first of two hearings again. So, basically just pushing everything back two weeks, but just want to make sure everyone's on the same page. So, that's it. Thank you. U Mr. Sutton, discussion on deferment.

Yeah. And and my uh second there is I'm I'm completely in favor of those of this. I'm just not confident in the ability to get the feedback that we'd be looking for in two weeks. Um, so I think the safe route is to defer this and then we'll we'll proceed from there. Mr. Wagner. Yeah, I'm absolutely that there's you know nothing that two weeks isn't going to buy us and it's safe council. So I, you know, fully support the the push of two weeks and let's get reach out to the group that's left and yeah, Mr. Jansen.

Uh, attorney Megan, do we in this motion, do we need to identify the actual date for the first reading instead of just saying in two weeks or are we are we are we clear on Yeah, I think it's clear that um let me since we're discussing it, let me just check with the the clerk who handles agendas. Any concerns with the way things are currently phrased? As long as the city manager agrees to being pushed to the next meeting, I don't see a problem with that internally. Okay, I'm good. I just want to make sure the logistics legally was there.

Okay. I would also like to say it saves on legal ads in the event that there's a second reading again. Um it saves the city from those fees if we defer the first reading. Okay. added bonus. Any other questions or comments? Madame clerk, roll call. And this is uh vote voting yes is to defer the first reading on this item to the next regular city council meeting. Council member Sutton, yes. Excuse me. Council member Wagner, yes. Council member Waters, yes. Council member Golding, yes. Council member Horn, yes. Council member Jansen, yes. Mayor Hoffman,

yes. Motion carries. All right. the the big one. Very disappointed there's not some sort of chicken hat or punny title. I don't I'm It was discussed today. I have a turkey. Director Ireland.

Yes, mayor. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Heather Ireland, planning and development director. I am here to present to you ordinance 8235 amending chapter 5 animals. Uh it's come up over the last few years where we've had the schools reach out to us um and also Beam that is on Ninth Street asking if they could have chickens um at their establishments or at their schools. Um we weren't allowed to previously allow that since it wasn't written into the ordinance that way. Currently you can only have uh backyard hens if you are a single family home in a single family zoning district. Um and there's a whole bunch of rules and regulations around that. So, uh, I know that council was interested in amending the code to allow this, um, to be expanded a little bit further. We have not received, you know, a lot of issues or complaints from anyone, neighbors, um, about backyard hens, probably because we don't allow roosters, so they're pretty quiet. They don't seem to bother the neighbors. Um, I am obviously uh, not an expert on fowl, so I do did have to reach out to an expert. Uh, her name is Cardi Beak. Um, I'm sorry. I'm That's the That's all you're going to get. I'm leaving the rest of the jokes for you guys. Yeah, I didn't want to take them all. Uh so, essentially what we've done is allow them in all of our residential zoning districts, single family and multif family at both public and private schools, religious organizations that have um uh educational um components, and nonprofits with community gardens. I mentioned Beak um or be, excuse me, I'm still on beak. um they've they've reached out a few times and you know again we've we've done a little bit of research in this and um you know chickens are a great way to have natural pest control, natural fertilizer. They also in schools can provide a important educational opportunity for students. So again I'm not an expert but I will try to answer any questions that you guys have. Thank you.

Thank you Director Ireland. Madame Clerk will you read the ordinance by title please? An ordinance of the city of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, amending chapter 5, animals, article 4, hen regulation, section 5-83, permitted zoning locations to allow backyard hens to be kept at schools and nonprofit organizations within single and multiple family residential zoning districts, providing for legislative findings, repeal of conflicting ordinances, severability, scriers, errors, codification, and an effective date. Thank you, madam clerk. This ordinance is before the council for a public hearing in cons consideration on its first reading. I will now open the public hearing on ordinance number 2026-8235. I do not have any speaker cards on this item. Mark, you want to talk on this one? Just kidding. Anyone from the audience like to speak in favor of or in opposition to this ordinance? Seeing none, public hearing is closed. Can I have a motion? I move we approve ordinance number 2026-8235 on the first reading amending chapter 5 animals of the city code of ordinances to allow backart backyard hens at public and private schools and nonprofit organizations in residential zoning districts and schedule a second reading for April 20th 2026.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Miss Goldie, sorry. Just a really quick question. Do do you have any idea or do you have the number of how many people have backyard hens right now in our residential zones?

Thank you. I I thought I had put it in the memo. Right. We have 30 permits. Okay. I'm sorry. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Go to Sandy. Any other questions or comments, Mr. Sutton?

Um, I I think while I don't generally have an issue here, I do have a slight concern with some of our private school areas, uh, possibly nonprofits. The two where we've had past other issues and discussions on other things are Monasuri. They're on 15th Avenue South and Church of Our Savior uh who backs up to residential areas there off of Hopson and um uh you know I'm just not sure when I think about areas like that. U certainly Church of Our Savior would fall into nonprofit I presume. So they could have those uh there in the back that back up to those houses on the I guess that's the east side of Hopson. And um obviously we've had the most recent issues with Monasuri. So I don't know just food for thought.

Mr. Horn, did not the original request come from a public school? I think that's the only one I remember coming across was Yeah. CB Elementary and for some reason and for some reason to to councelor Sutton's point I thought when we discussed it I I again I may be incorrect. I thought we discussed we were just talking about the public schools but I may be incorrect.

I think the thing to remember is that all of those residential houses back there could all have hens. So you're it could be your neighbor that's a school or your neighbor on either side of you or all of the above or none of the above. And it if we only have 30 so far, uh the odds are that it's none of the above. So I think this is a um a good move particularly uh in the elementary school setting and as as well as the big community garden that we have there at beam Mr. bit of a revisit, but for the purposes of just in general the concept of, you know, hen hens in the public setting and people's backyards, if they become a nuisance, what is the kill switch? Where does that become where does that stand?

Sure. So, um, sorry, I'm trying to think of a better way to say kill switch, but I mean it's you get it. Yeah. Sorry. Any violations of this section of chapter 5 uh would be handled by code enforcement. So again, like I've said before, we haven't received any complaints. Okay. So far, like I say, frier switch, but no, I'll stop. I'll stop. Mr. Wowers, I was just wondering, would the police be allowed to test her new tasers on the chickens? Miss Golding,

just a quick revisit. Um, so I was on the council and the mayor was as well when we when we passed this ordinance and and to just to respond Mr. Sutton's concerns, um, you know, I think we put a lot of time into it because we knew that this was allowing hens in residential zones, so we did not want it to be problematic next to, you know, behind my house or behind your house or whatever the case may be. So, I feel pretty I feel good about it and the fact that we've had it for several years now and we haven't had any complaints. I feel like we we've got the I think we've done a good job with the ordinance. Maybe there's some things that could be approve improved at some point, but but I think the track record speaks for itself at this point and I would hope that we wouldn't have any concerns, but if we did, the ordinance would help us address them. We did have a few speakers at that point that you would have thought the sky was falling. I got one. I got one. Okay, Mr. Waters.

Director Ireland, has code enforcement received any complaints about chickens? Nope. Just the rogue occasional rooster or peacock. Okay. Just wondering. I didn't know. That was a while ago. Thank you. Any other questions or comments from council? Madam clerk, roll call. Council member Wagner. Yes. Council member Waters. Yes. Council member Golding. Yes. Council member Horn. Yes. Council member Jansen. Yes. Council member Sutton. No. Mayor Hoffman. Yes. The motion carries. Uh motion to adjurnn. I move to adjourn.