Oct 24, 2022
Jacksonville's Citizen Planning Advisory Committees (CPACs) promote communication between city government and the residents it serves. CPACs are informed of applications for land-use plan amendments, rezoning's and activities associated with police and schools within their planning district.
Here are some of the topics discussed in the August CPAC meeting. To see the complete meeting summary click the link at the bottom of the page.
Presentation(s): : James Kowalski, Jr., President and CEO, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. provided an overview of the civil legal services that Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (JALA) offers to the community. JALA serves 17 counties of North Florida including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union. pg. 2 Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (JALA) provides civil legal help to eligible clients in many areas of the law. JALA provides the following services: • Self Help Resources • Free Legal Clinics • ADA • Foreclosure Intervention Program • Ask A Lawyer Events • Free Legal Clinics and Pro Bono services
To learn more about the services offered or upcoming events, please visit: https://www.jaxlegalaid.org
Nikki Evans, City Council At-Large Group, Executive Council Assistant – provided the following updates:
• The Mental Health Offender Program held a graduation ceremony last week and the program can now add five more graduates to their success story.
• The Special Committee on Solid Waste was formed with the task of looking for a new way to deal with solid waste locally. As a member of that special committee, Council Member Salem is looking at ways to divert some of our solid waste from our landfill and to create compost areas. The council member is working with Duval County Public Schools to see if there is a way to create and implement a policy / procedure for this process by testing options using solid waste from our schools.
Council Member Ron Salem- RSalem@coj.net or 904-5216
Elected Officials Report:
The Honorable Danny Becton, City Council District 11 – provided the following updates:
• Council Member Becton met with the Planning and Development Department Director to discuss the six planning districts. It was stated that the district boundaries were established in 1985 and were created for data analysis. The census track was partly used to create the boundaries. Any boundary changes would need to be approved by the Mayor/Executive Branch and the Planning and Development Department.
• At Fort Family Regional Park, construction began on three baseball fields that will have AstroTurf fields and a facility for concessions/restrooms. Two flex fields are also under construction; one field will have AstroTurf and the other will have natural grass. Completion date is expected to be mid to late February.
For additional information about happenings in City Council District 11, please visit Council Member Becton’s website: https://dannybecton.org/
Council Member Becton – dbecton@coj.net or 904-255-5211
The Honorable Michael Boylan, City Council District 5 – Provided the following updates:
• The Critical Quality of Life Issues (CQLI) Special Committee was created to address access to healthcare, affordable housing, and homelessness in Jacksonville. Thus far, the special committee has met three times and has used subject matter experts to inform them on the needs and services currently available citywide. The results and recommendations that The CQLI Special Committee is tasked with developing will be presented in a report to the full City Council at the December 13, 2022, City Council meeting.
• The next Council District 5 Town Hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at the Mandarin Senior Center, 3848 Hartley Road, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. There will be a Round Robin table discussion at the November meeting and the following participants will be in attendance: o Michael Pinckney – Superintendent, Solid Waste Department o Michael Chao – Director of Code Enforcement o Assistant Sheriff Craig Waldrup – JSO Zone 3 Chief o Tim Rogers – Executive Director, Jacksonville Public Library o Mike Hogan – Supervisor of Elections (tentative) pg. 3 o Also at the November 2, 2022, town hall meeting, Ms. Kim Smithers will be making a brief presentation regarding IQ Fiber’s plans to install broadband fiber in the Mandarin area and what the installation process entails.
Council Member Boylan – MBoylan@coj.net or 904-255-5206
Staff Reports (Abbreviated):
JSO – Lieutenant Hensley, introduced himself to the CPAC and shared how the JSO shifts are set up to provide service 24/7. It was announced that JSO has walking beats at the St. John’s Town Center and in the San Marco community. JSO utilizes bicycle units as well.
• The Mental Health Responder Unit is in place and assist with persons suffering from mental health issues that need treatment options opposed to enforcement options.
• JSO calls for service in Zone 3 have increase 5% year to date. Most of the calls are related to property crime. The CPAC was reminded to not leave valuables and keys in unlocked cars. The 9pm Routine was encouraged. Zone 3 Substation – 904-630-8100 JFRD –
Captain Johnson, Fire Prevention Division, informed the CPAC about smoke detector and fire extinguisher maintenance/disposal. Everyone was reminded to download the JaxReady app as part of their hurricane preparations.
Cheryl Riddick announced Gameday Xpress has returned. To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.jtafla.com/ride-jta/bus-schedules-and-services/gameday-xpress/.
My Ride 2 School is back. Middle and high school students in Duval County can ride any JTA bus during the week for free with a school I.D. Visit http://go.jtafla.com/myride2school for more information. Cheryl Riddick – criddick@jtafla.com
Municipal Code Compliance Division
• In the past 30 days, 813 inspections were completed in the Southeast District.
• Twelve citations were written for snipe signs on the right-of-way.
• A systematic inspection will be conducted in the Pine Forest Neighborhood; the expected start date is September 26, 2022.
• The Jacksonville Assistance and Relief or JAR program was reviewed. The purpose of the Jacksonville Assistance and Relief Program is to facilitate a means of compliance to those who would otherwise be unable to achieve it due to disability or economic disadvantages. The program’s objective is to provide the abatement services required at no cost to those citizens who qualify, thereby achieving compliance and beautification of the city while not unduly burdening its most vulnerable citizens. If you cannot comply with the violations on your property due to a disability or economic hardship, please feel free to visit: https://www.coj.net/departments/neighborhoods/municipal-codecompliance/jacksonville-assistance-and-relief-program Devron Cody – 904-255-7033 or DCody@coj.net Planning & Development Department –
Arimus Wells announced that this would be his last SE CPAC meeting; Mr. Wells has received a promotion in the Planning and Development Department. Arimus Wells – 904-255-7824 or ArimusW@coj.net
Parks, Recreation and Social Services – Kathleen McGovern provided the following updates: • Greenland Road Park will receive new playground equipment and fencing around the football fields.
• Palmetto Leaves Park will receive an expansion to the flex fields.
• Construction for new baseball fields is underway at Fort Family Regional Park. Also at this park, the grass on the soccer fields will be replaced with artificial grass and a new playground will be installed.
• The Mandarin Park ADA compliant kayak and boat launch has been completed and is open to the public.
• Lights have been installed at the Walter Anderson Park pickleball courts.
North Florida TPO – Jim Hill – presented a report from the NFTPO, the report included:
• Funding is in place to conduct a study on train traffic in the San Marco area. The goal is to develop a traffic re-route system to improve traffic in the area.
• Discussions about commuter rail between Jacksonville and St. Augustine are occurring again.
• I-95 is slated to be widened starting at the Atlantic Boulevard interchange and ending at the World Golf Village in St. Johns County. The widening will be completed in phases.
Click here to see a complete copy of the CPAC Meeting Summary
