Mayor Deegan to Hold Mandarin Town Hall; Council Boards Convene Today
Active Thursday for Jacksonville Government with Town Halls and Council Sessions
Jacksonville’s political calendar is packed this Thursday, March 12, 2026, as Mayor Donna Deegan continues her community outreach efforts alongside several official city board sessions. The day is highlighted by a high-profile mayoral town hall in the Mandarin area and a specialized meeting concerning development on Heckscher Drive, reflecting a busy period for local governance and infrastructure planning.
Mayor Deegan Addresses Housing and Infrastructure
Mayor Donna Deegan is scheduled to host a town hall meeting this evening at Mandarin High School, located at 4831 Greenland Road. The session, which runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., is part of a new series of community forums aimed at direct engagement with residents. The Mayor is expected to focus on several key pillars of her administration’s current agenda, specifically emphasizing the need for more affordable housing and healthcare options within Duval County.
In addition to social services, the Mayor will discuss ongoing and proposed infrastructure improvements. These town halls are designed to provide a transparent look at how the city’s budget is being allocated to shore up underserved neighborhoods. The event is free and open to the public, with no prior registration required, allowing for a standard Q&A format where citizens can voice local concerns directly to the administration.
Value Adjustment Board Monthly Meeting
Earlier today, the 2025 Value Adjustment Board (VAB) is scheduled to convene at 11:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. Chaired by Council Member Will Lahnen, this meeting is part of the regular monthly cycle for the VAB, which handles petitions regarding property value assessments and tax exemptions. These sessions are critical for the city’s fiscal oversight, ensuring that property tax assessments remain fair and consistent with state law.
Community Discussion on Heckscher Drive Rezoning
At 6:00 p.m. tonight, Council Member Mike Gay will lead a noticed community meeting at the Heckscher Drive Community Club. The primary focus of this session is the pending legislation identified as Ordinance 2026-0060. The ordinance proposes a rezoning of approximately 1.28 acres at 10028 Heckscher Drive from Commercial Community/General-2 (CCG-2) to a Planned Unit Development (PUD).
The proposed change would allow for the development of a commercial storage facility intended for personal and family use. Given the unique environmental and residential characteristics of the East Jacksonville and Ft. George Road areas, this rezoning has drawn significant interest from local stakeholders. Council Member Gay has encouraged all interested parties to attend to review the PUD details and provide feedback before the legislation moves further through the Land Use and Zoning (LUZ) Committee.