Jacksonville City Council: 5 Key Votes, Including 12-7 JEA Reappointment and $100 Million in Housing Bonds

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville City Council approved the reappointment of a JEA board member in a 12-7 vote, authorized up to $100 million in housing revenue bonds by an 18-1 vote and approved a $2.8 million affordable housing loan by a 15-3 vote Tuesday, Oct. 27. The council also approved changes to Jacksonville Zoo funding arrangements 19-0 and additional state housing assistance 18-0. Those decisions were among the final actions taken during a meeting that lasted until 8:46 p.m.

All 19 council members attended the meeting at City Hall, 117 W. Duval St., which began at 5 p.m. The agenda contained 215 items, including 159 with bill numbers, according to a Jax Times count of the city's legislative records. The city published final meeting minutes Wednesday, Oct. 28.

1. JEA Board Reappointment Approved 12-7

Council confirmed the mayor's reappointment of Joseph "Joe" P. DiSalvo, a Duval County resident, to the JEA board for a second full term ending Feb. 28, 2030. The decision came on Ordinance 2026-0203, which was introduced March 10. The Rules Committee had recommended approval Oct. 19 by a 6-1 vote, with Ron Salem voting against it.

The final council vote was 12 in favor and seven opposed. The seven opposing members were Joe Carlucci, Kevin Carrico, Rory Diamond, Randy White, Raul Arias, Mike Gay and Ron Salem. Twelve plus seven equals 19, so every member present cast a vote on the reappointment.

2. Up to $100 Million in Housing Bonds Approved 18-1

Council approved Resolution 2026-0765, authorizing the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority to issue up to $100 million in Homeowner Mortgage Revenue Bonds. The authority can issue the bonds in one or more series, up to $100 million in total face amount. The council president introduced the measure at the authority's request, with Council Member Clark-Murray as co-sponsor.

Bond money can buy mortgage loans made by participating local lenders to finance buying or rehabbing new or existing owner-occupied homes in Duval County. It can also buy federally guaranteed securities or refund earlier authority bonds issued for that purpose. The resolution additionally authorizes a request for private activity bond volume cap.

The bond authorization does not create debt for the city, county or state. According to the legislation's fiscal impact statement, their general credit and taxing powers are not pledged to repayment. The housing authority held a public hearing Sept. 4, but no one appeared or requested to speak.

Council approved the resolution 18-1, with Rory Diamond casting the only opposing vote. All 19 members participated in the final vote. Eighteen plus one equals 19 votes cast.

3. $2.8 Million Tori Meadows Housing Loan Approved 15-3

Council approved Ordinance 2026-0752, authorizing a $2.8 million development loan to Tori Meadows, Ltd. for a multifamily affordable housing development. The project would provide approximately 180 affordable housing units on about 8.74 acres at the northwest corner of San Diego Road and Spring Park Road. The development has an estimated total cost of $39 million, including low-income housing tax credits.

The loan carries a 20-year term and 1 percent interest, with payment upon substantial completion under the proposed agreement. The city's contribution represents approximately 7.2 percent of the estimated project cost, according to Jax Times calculations. The council president introduced the legislation at the mayor's request.

The Finance Committee substitute appropriated $1.4 million from a Housing Services fiscal 2027 capital stack account and another $1.4 million from a Housing Services tap fee account. The legislation also waived part of the city's Public Investment Policy because that policy does not currently authorize this form of development loan. A Rules Committee amendment corrected drafting errors, reduced a general partner distribution limit from $500,000 to $280,000 and changed a deadline figure from six to twelve.

Council first approved a substitute and then amended and approved the measure 15-3. Will Lahnen, Mike Gay and Chris Miller voted against it, while Rory Diamond was recorded as non-voting. Earlier committee actions included a 4-3 Rules vote, a 7-0 vote in the NCSPHS committee and a 7-1 Finance vote on the substitute.

4. Jacksonville Zoo Funding Rules Changed 19-0

Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2026-0749, changing the conditions for reimbursing the Jacksonville Zoological Society for capital improvements and repairs. The measure allows the society to request reimbursement of $4 million appropriated in fiscal 2025-26 without first demonstrating spending that matches an earlier $12 million advance. Council Member Mike Gay introduced the legislation.

The city has appropriated $45 million for capital improvements and repairs at the zoo to date. The earlier $12 million advance remains subject to a dollar-for-dollar matching requirement, but the amended agreement allows any verified direct costs not previously reported to count, regardless of project phase. The city's Public Works Department retains oversight of the agreement.

The legislation provides no additional city appropriation. It changes the conditions governing previously approved funds rather than increasing the overall funding commitment. All 19 council members voted in favor of the amended measure.

5. Additional $247,929 in Housing Assistance Approved 18-0

Council approved Ordinance 2026-0753, adding $247,929 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership grant funding to the city's housing programs. Of that amount, $223,136.10 goes toward down payment assistance and $24,792.90 supports administration. The legislation came at the mayor's request, with Council Member Clark-Murray serving as co-sponsor.

The money comes from unallocated state disaster funding, sent from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity through the Florida Housing Finance Corp. It increases Jacksonville's fiscal 2025-26 SHIP funding total to $8,240,310.98, up from $7,992,381.98. The city's SHIP program lines include $1,223,136.10 for down payment assistance, $300,000 for heirs property assistance, $750,000 for foreclosure intervention, $3,201,208.98 for owner-occupied rehabilitation and $2 million for affordable housing development.

The legislation has no cost to the city. Council approved it 18-0, with Rory Diamond recorded as non-voting. The additional funding increases the resources available for existing housing assistance programs.

Other Final Votes: E-Bike Signs, Homelessness Plan and City Administration

Council also approved Ordinance 2026-0755 by an 18-0 vote, allowing district council members to use existing traffic-calming funds for signs displaying the 15 mph speed limit for electric bicycles on sidewalks and shared-use paths. Council Member Boylan introduced the measure, with Clark-Murray as co-sponsor. The legislation creates no new appropriation, and Rory Diamond was recorded as non-voting.

Council approved Ordinance 2026-0778 by a 17-0-1 vote, extending the Homelessness Initiatives Commission's deadline for a five-year strategic plan from Oct. 31, 2026, to Feb. 1, 2027. Council Member Peluso introduced the measure after delays involving consultant hiring. Ju'Coby Pittman abstained, and Rory Diamond was recorded as non-voting.

Council also approved a change to the Corrections Employees Defined Contribution Plan, Ordinance 2026-0687, by a 19-0 vote. The measure formally defines earnable compensation for retirement contributions, excluding overtime and bonuses while including certain other categories of pay. Council Member Randy White introduced the legislation, which applies retroactively to Oct. 1, 2017.

Another measure, Ordinance 2026-0722, passed 17-2 and converts the Office of Administrative Services into the Administrative Services Department. The department will have a director appointed by the mayor and subject to council confirmation. Kevin Carrico and Ron Salem voted against the legislation, which the mayor requested and Council Member Johnson co-sponsored.

Springfield Rezoning and Other Property Decisions

Council approved Ordinance 2026-0654, rezoning approximately 2.31 acres at 1905 Walnut St. from Industrial Light to Planned Unit Development. The former Duval Laundry property could accommodate offices, retail, restaurants, warehousing, light manufacturing and event space. The 18-0 approval included a ban on live music or amplified sound between midnight and 9 a.m., while Mone' Holder was recorded as non-voting.

Council also approved changes affecting the Kings Creek II Community Development District and properties along Hendricks and Grandy avenues. The Kings Creek II measure reduced the district by approximately 93.24 acres, while two separate measures approved commercial office uses on approximately 0.32 acre. Each measure passed 18-0.

Public Hearings Held, but Three Proposals Not Yet Approved

Three additional measures received public hearings and second readings before returning to committee without final approval. Ordinance 2026-0810 proposes $2 million for Junior Achievement of North Florida to support a 34,000-square-foot experiential learning center at Florida State College at Jacksonville's downtown campus. Council Member Rory Diamond introduced the proposal, which identifies an estimated $15.48 million construction cost.

Diamond also introduced Ordinance 2026-0809, proposing $900,000 for WareWorks Inc. to support an electrical apprenticeship training program. The proposed budget includes a $325,000 mobile learning lab and $380,000 for instruction and facility operations. Separately, Council Member Pittman introduced Ordinance 2026-0808, supporting discussions about a mixed-income housing initiative on property at 8793 Sibbald Road.

None of those three proposals received final council approval Oct. 27. They remain in the legislative process following public hearings and referrals back to committee. Council's next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, while Tuesday committee meetings during election week move to Wednesday, Nov. 4.

## How we did this Jax Times reviewed Jacksonville City Council's final minutes, legislative agenda items, bill summaries, amendments and recorded roll-call votes for the Oct. 27, 2026, meeting through the city's Legistar records at jaxcityc.legistar1.com. We reviewed the records Oct. 28 and distinguished final approvals from proposals that received only public hearings or committee referrals. Agenda totals, funding percentages and arithmetic comparisons identified as Jax Times calculations were derived from the published legislative records.