Terrell Blackmon

The meeting included discussions and updates on various projects and programs. Summer day camp is full, and the summer mowing is progressing well. The movie series has been successful, with plans to move a showing of Frozen to the commons due to high attendance. A meeting with engineering is scheduled to discuss Phillips Park, focusing on the history of the landfill. Renovations are starting at the commons, and the budget has been passed. The Jack Emmet ball field is nearing completion, with a park dedication planned for Sunday. Volunteers cleared a corner lot at the commons to create a trail for biking and pedestrian use. The Cur Street fence will be installed after July 1. The skate park is undergoing evaluation due to storm damage, with plans to replace the wooden ramps with metal ones. A community meeting is scheduled at Jack Emmet to discuss these projects further.

The meeting of the Jacksonville Water and Sewer Advisory Committee discussed the water shortage response plan and the water supply plan. The water shortage response plan includes tiered levels of conservation efforts, goals, and penalties for non-compliance. The plan includes five levels: voluntary, two levels of mandatory restrictions, emergency, and water rationing. The committee discussed methods for meeting conservation goals, including encouraging water conservation and education during voluntary reductions, and specific restrictions during mandatory reductions. The committee also discussed enforcement and penalties.

The meeting included presentations on the work of the sanitation division and clean and green initiatives in the Parks division. The sanitation division discussed managing city residential and commercial waste, providing environmentally sound methods for collecting and disposing of solid waste, and excellent customer service. The Parks division focused on landscaping efforts, particularly at the Public Services compound, to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.

The council meeting included discussions on a grant application from United Way for the renovation of a historic building to expand community programs and serve as a volunteer resource center. There was also a discussion regarding non-profit funding for public-private partnerships and community development block grants for the FY24 budget. A partnership for affordable housing was presented, involving the construction of 24 units of supportive housing at the Phoenix Park complex.

The committee discussed the adoption of the agenda and approval of the minutes from the December 10th 2015 meeting. The committee also discussed the new projects that have been identified for water and sewers, including the inflow and infiltration project, the Decatur lift station elimination project, Ellis outfall G1, Ellis outfall 2, Henderson Drive infrastructure, Woodlands Park utility extension, water line at Cheney Creek, and Black Creek raw water wells.