JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a packed agenda and razor-thin votes expected on several hot-button issues, the Jacksonville City Council is bracing for what could be a tense and lengthy meeting Tuesday night.
Earlier in the day, Council President Kevin Carrico convened a separate session to address potential disruptions and clarify rules of conduct for both council members and the public.
Carrico, joined by a representative from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, warned that council members who walk out of official meetings in protest could face legal consequences, including arrest. The warning follows a meeting two weeks ago when several members temporarily left the chamber during a heated debate over budget amendments.
“We certainly don’t want to arrest our colleagues and have them pay fines and serve jail time, but that’s what the law says,” Carrico said. “We want everyone to take this job seriously — to show up. You made an oath to do so.”
Budget discussions are currently underway and include proposed cuts to property taxes, social services, and controversial amendments that would restrict city funding for programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), abortion access, and immigration. Funding for the Jacksonville Jaguars new stadium is also in the budget.
While Carrico emphasized potential consequences for disorderly conduct, a legal memo obtained by News4JAX through a public records request outlines more nuance.
According to the Jacksonville General Counsel’s Office:
- Not every walkout would qualify as a crime.
- Leaving a meeting is not automatically illegal unless it causes a significant disruption.
- Criminal charges are unlikely without “strong admissible evidence” proving all legal elements of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were no confirmed plans for another council walkout. However, city officials are preparing for high public turnout, with hundreds expected to attend. Additional space has been opened on the first floor of City Hall to accommodate overflow crowds, and additional private security and police will be in attendance to ensure order is maintained.
The council meeting remains ongoing.