Jacksonville City Council Committees to Review Infrastructure and Leadership for 2026

High-Stakes Legislative Session Scheduled for City Hall

Today, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Jacksonville City Hall is the site of a heavy legislative calendar as several key committees convene to address infrastructure funding, pension adjustments, and the future of city leadership. The day is marked by back-to-back sessions in the Council Chambers, starting with morning oversight and ending with critical votes on multi-million dollar appropriations and land acquisitions.

Finance Committee to Vote on Multi-Million Dollar Infrastructure

The City Council Finance Committee is scheduled to meet at 1:00 p.m. to deliberate on a packed agenda featuring 30 items. A primary focus of the session is Ordinance 2026-0136, which seeks to appropriate $3.1 million for the acquisition of five parcels of land located in Jacksonville. This funding is designated for the New Berlin Road expansion project, specifically the stretch from Cedar Point Road to Starratt/Pulaski Road. This infrastructure project is considered a priority for alleviating traffic congestion in the growing Northside area.

Additionally, the Finance Committee will consider Ordinance 2025-0361, a measure concerning retiree adjustment payments. The ordinance would authorize one-time payments to retirees and beneficiaries of the city’s Correctional Officers, General Employees, and Police and Fire Pension Funds, utilizing revenue from the pension liability surtax.

Investigatory Committees and Government Oversight

The morning and early afternoon sessions are dedicated to specialized oversight committees:

• Special Committee on Duval DOGE: Meeting from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., this committee will continue its work addressing matters outlined in the March 2025 Charge Memorandum, focusing on government efficiency and departmental accountability.
• Special Investigatory Committee on JEA Matters: Convening at 3:00 p.m., this body will follow up on the recent March 11 Charge Memorandum regarding the city-owned utility.
• Transportation, Energy, and Utilities (TEU) Committee: Earlier today at 9:30 a.m., members met to discuss ongoing utility contracts and energy service bids.

Leadership Transitions and Zoning Meetings

As the council looks toward the next fiscal year, Councilman Rahman Johnson (District 14) and Councilman Randy White (District 12) will host a public meeting at 4:00 p.m. in the Henry Cook Room. The discussion is focused on the upcoming 2026-2027 Jacksonville City Council leadership cycle. Councilman Johnson is expected to share his vision for the council's future direction while hearing perspectives from veteran leadership ahead of the official selection process.

The day concludes with the Land Use and Zoning (LUZ) Committee, which will hold its agenda meeting at 4:30 p.m. followed by its full meeting at 5:00 p.m. to review property development applications and city planning updates.