JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville City Council President announced a special committee to address drowning prevention across the city, following two drowning deaths involving children with autism in August.
Council President Nick Howland established the Special Committee on Drowning Prevention after Councilman Reggie Gaffney, Jr. called on the council to examine what steps the city could take to reduce drowning risks.
“We cannot eliminate every risk around water,” Howland said. “But where there are practical, commonsense solutions that can prevent a tragedy and save a life, we have an obligation to find them.”
Howland says the committee will take a comprehensive look at drowning prevention across Jacksonville, with a particular focus on retention ponds and stormwater facilities.
Its work will include examining available data on drownings, reviewing existing water safety education efforts, evaluating risks for children with autism, assessing current prevention methods in Jacksonville and other communities, and recommending public information strategies and potential legislative action.
Gaffney will chair the committee, which also includes Council Members Tyrona Clark-Murray and Mike Gay. The committee is expected to submit its final report to the Neighborhoods Committee by Dec. 31, 2026.
“The goal is not simply to study the problem,” Howland said. “It is to identify practical, effective measures that can save lives.”
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