Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will sign a nearly $26 million spending plan Wednesday that addresses everything from homelessness to health care.

The Jacksonville City Council voted Tuesday to pass Mayor Donna Deegan’s Task Force Bill with 13 of 17 council members showing support of the bill.

Three members of the Jacksonville City Council have been re-elected before any ballots are even cast. Each of these council members drew no opponents during the qualifying period for the 2023 city elections. Their new four-year terms will start July 1. All three of these council members are Republicans.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Upcoming Jacksonville City Council Standing Committee meetings in the month of November have been canceled due to health and safety concerns over COVID-19, according to a memo from Council President Tommy Hazouri. The meetings, which were scheduled for Nov. 16 and 17, included the following standing committees:Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and SafetyTransportation, Energy and UtilitiesFinanceRulesLand Use and ZoningThe decision comes after some City Council members were quarantined due to exposure to a colleague with COVID-19. Councilman Scott Wilson told News4Jax on Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, and at the time he said that he had some nasal congestion but no other symptoms. Additionally, the memo says plexiglass will be arriving on Monday and installed in council chambers. The committee of the whole will still meet regarding Lot J as scheduled on Nov. 19.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two more members of Jacksonville’s City Council are dealing with the realities of COVID-19 exposure. Scott Wilson told News4Jax on Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. We celebrated the BidenHarris win...& we quarantine & test for Covid-19 bc we care abt each other & our neighbors too. City Council was scheduled to have a regular meeting on Tuesday night, but after Wilson’s diagnosis, the council meeting was canceled. In March, Councilman Sam Newby was one of the first public figures in Jacksonville to test positive for the coronavirus.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Scott Wilson, a member of the Jacksonville City Council, has tested positive for the coronavirus, News4Jax learned Monday. “I stayed home all weekend in quarantine just to be sure and this morning they called me back and said it was positive,” Wilson said. I don’t have a fever, shortness of breath, no loss of taste.”Wilson was at an in-person council meeting last week. we recommend that you immediately begin self-isolation and that you get tested.”City Council was scheduled to have a regular meeting on Tuesday, but after Wilson’s diagnosis, the council meeting was canceled. In March, Councilman Sam Newby was one of the first public figures in Jacksonville to test positive for the coronavirus.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Another player in the JEA saga was questioned about what happened during the city-owned utility’s failed sales attempt. Tim Baker, a political consultant for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, was questioned last month by an attorney for the City Council investigative committee about the role he played in the botched JEA sale. Zahn said that he flew to Atlanta on a plane provided by Conventus, LLC, a company co-managed by Baker. Sam Mousa, who recently retired from that position and is listed in public records as a co-manager of Conventus LLC, was also there. The testimony is being reviewed by a City Council committee looking into JEA and the practices surrounding the potential sale.

I truly care about this city and its residents and will serve them responsibly and passionately. I want to leave the District and the City in a better place than it was when I'm sworn in. COVID-19 presents a unique set of circumstances that will challenge our Nation and our City to ensure the safety of its citizens. I would hope to be remembered as someone that was truly for the people of this district and city. We must make Jacksonville a city for ALL people and acknowledge where we have fallen short.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. In the race for the Duval County School Board, four of the seven seats on the board were up for election in 2020. Duval County Clerk of CourtsIt was an open seat for 2020 in the Republican primary race for Duval County Clerk of Court. Jody Phillips, whos the chief operating officer for the the Clerk of Courts, won with 58% of the vote. Next was City Council member Scott Wilson, who got 31% of the vote, followed by Leon Jackson, who has been manager of the Clerk of Courts since 2005. Hamm received 43% of the vote, Carrico received 34% and Redman received 23%.

I want to leave the District and the City in a better place than it was when I'm sworn in. Community Development Leadership Transparency Infrastructure ImprovementHow can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot? I would hope to be remembered as someone that was truly for the people of this district and city. With the experience I have as City Councilman in this District, I can be ready to start on day one. I know the issues of this district as a Business Owner and Operator for over 40 years in this district.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City Councilman Garrett Dennis will lead elected officials in a march through Downtown Jacksonville on Sunday to show solidarity with those who have been speaking out against social injustice and police brutality. He invited Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams to join the group -- as leaders in other cities have done -- but both declined, saying they will participate “in the near future” but Sunday isn’t the time. Dennis said several City Council members will join him, including outgoing president Scott Wilson and incoming president Tommy Hazouri. Williams, who was invited to join in, said he will “engage in a walk,” but it won’t be Sunday. He said he would like to participate in a march, along with Sheriff Williams, just not right now.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Hazouri on Tuesday was chosen as the next Jacksonville City Council president. According to Wilson, Republicans pressured him to break a promise to Hazouri, a Democrat, and was told if he doesn’t, he could face an uphill battle in an upcoming primary. On the Tuesday Zoom meeting that has become the way of city business during the pandemic Councilmember Brenda Priestly Jackson made the formal nomination of Vice President Hazouri. For the most part, the City Council presidency is handed down to the person who serves as Vice President the year before. Sam Newby was chosen unanimously as the next City Council Vice President.

Local Republicans are turning against one of their own in the midst of an in-party battle for leadership of the Jacksonville City Council. It involves pressure by Republicans to pull support from the current City Council President Scott Wilson. Wilson, the current City Council President who is leaving to run for another office, told News4Jax on Monday he will have nothing to do with it. For the most part, the City Council presidency is handed down to the person who serves as Vice President the year before. “That’s Scott Wilson,” Hazouri said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax political expert Rick Mullaney, former general counsel for Jacksonville, believes there is still much that hasn’t been revealed in the JEA investigation. Several City Council members were later arrested and convicted on fraud charges. Right now former Council Members Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown are awaiting sentencing on a fraud conviction. During the Morning Show on News4Jax on Thursday, Jacksonville City Council President Scott Wilson talked about the upcoming investigation. “I think any investigation that the City Council conducts going forward will provide more information," Wilson said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As of Monday, Jacksonville City attorneys and the JEA Board of Directors had not yet reached an agreement on what former CEO Aaron Zahn will walk away with as a settlement from his contract with the city-owned utility. City Council President Scott Wilson is looking to impanel a special City Council committee to investigate exactly what happened and what went wrong with JEA while it explored a possible sale. City Councilmember Rory Diamond, a former federal prosecutor, said he would be interested in heading up that special committee. As for the committee, Diamond said they need to know for sure what happened. But, he said, if the City Council were to investigate it would be out in the public.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The anti-crime group, MAD DADS, Jacksonville police officers, and city leaders joined family members and friends of Stephen Burt Saturday outside the home in Brentwood where he was shot and killed. They went door to door in the neighborhood asking residents to break the code of silence and help bring Burt's killer to justice. "I want justice, I just want to bury my son and just be in peace," said Burt's mother, Tonja Smith. Jacksonville City Council President Scott Wilson joined in the walk and is concerned about the deadly violence we see in the city. Anyone with information about the deadly shooting is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS (8477).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The potential sale of JEA is still raising concerns among customers and city council members. JEA and the city council have been told by lawyers to keep quiet about the possible sale while negotiations are underway. On Monday, companies are expected to submit bids for the possible sale of Jacksonvilles public utility. JEA staff isnt talking and city council has been advised to keep mum. Rest assured, if and when a recapitalization event is presented to the Jacksonville City Council, we will ensure public participation, he said.

Last year, the city formed a temporary anti-crime task force aimed at coming up with solutions to the bloodshed. City Council member Aaron Bowman, who established the task force, believes it has an important role to play in the city's future. Establishing a new task force would require full council approval. "This task force isn't responding to crime," Bowman told News4Jax. 1 recommendation from the task force was to carry on its work.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Duval County school leaders said the ball is in the hands of the Jacksonville City Council after the School Board answered 11 pages of questions from council members about the proposed half-cent sales tax the board still wants to put before voters this year. The City Council sent the questions on June 26 and the school officials responded July 31 with 17 pages of answers and a copy of the Master Facilities Plan that the School Board approved early last month. "The early November date is out," Supevisor of Elections Mike Hogan told News4Jax, adding that the school board has not contacted him about any other date. Council President Scott Wilson said he believes it will be extremely difficult to get the referendum on any ballot in 2019. Wilson said now that they have the responses from the School Board, he wants to set up a workshop between the two bodies to resolve outstanding questions.

The Finance Committee voted unanimously in the morning to defer any vote on the sales tax referendum requested by the Duval County School Board. "I was disappointed in the fact that the school board administration and board members were here to answer questions and never got a chance to be asked questions." Warren Jones, vice-chairman of the Duval County School Board and a former member of City Council, was less diplomatic. On Monday, City Council President Scott Wilson joined the School Board for its workshop to discuss the issue. According to School Board Chair Lori Hershey, quite a lot -- especially when it comes to the bottom line.

The Finance Committee voted unanimously in the morning to defer any vote on the sales tax referendum requested by the Duval County School Board. People, some in tears, told council members that they are not thinking about the children. Vice-chairman of the Duval County School Board, Warren Jones, who used to serve on City Council, was less diplomatic. On Monday, City Council President Scott Wilson joined the School Board for its workshop to discuss the issue. According to School Board Chair Lori Hershey, quite a lot -- especially when it comes to the bottom line.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson on Cure Violence and the Crime Gun Intelligence Center. City Council President Scott Wilson, and Lori Boyer of the Downtown Investment Authority.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The leadership of the Jacksonville City Council was installed during a ceremony Thursday night at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts. Republican Scott Wilson was sworn in as president of the Jacksonville City Council, replacing Aaron Bowman. Democrat Tommy Hazouri, a former mayor of Jacksonville, was sworn in as vice president. He became a council member in July 2015 and would later become vice president, which he served as before being sworn in as president on Thursday. The new City Council year begins July 1, and the leadership elections are held each May.