Ms. Beth Payne, Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC),
presented on the Northeast Florida Military Installation Readiness Review (MIRR).
Ms. Payne stated that the purpose of the MIRR is to identify risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities of
concern related to the ability of the military to carry out its missions at four regional installations: Camp
Blanding Joint Training Center, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Naval Station Mayport,
and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. She noted that the MIRR focuses on mitigation through investments
and solutions outside the fence line in the community.
Ms. Payne stated that the MIRR is funded by a grant from the Department of War's Office of Local
Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) of approximately $1 million, with a match of $113,000
from the NEFRC. Ms. Payne noted that Northeast Florida is the last region in the state to complete a
MIRR, and that completing MIRRs has been a priority of the DeSantis Administration to take advantage
of available grant funding to protect the military and its mission.
Ms. Payne described the MIRR's two-committee structure. She stated that the Steering Committee
meets quarterly and focuses on higher-level policy direction. She stated that the Technical Advisory
Committee meets monthly and consists of subject matter experts in areas such as public works, utilities,
environment, and conservation, along with local government staff. She stated that 30 to 40 members
typically attend virtually and that the Committee provides data and fact-checking. Ms. Payne reviewed
progress to date on the eighteen-month project, scheduled to conclude in September 2026. She stated
that work to date has included installation tours, installation-specific stakeholder meetings, ongoing
committee meetings, and a vulnerability assessment conducted through a military-focused lens.
Ms. Payne stated that the MIRR used the City's vulnerability assessment to examine how identified
hazards would affect the regional military installations. She noted that hazard profiles differ across
installations: Camp Blanding faces wildfire and conservation issues, while Naval Station Mayport faces
erosion and sea level rise. Ms. Payne provided an overview of the definitions of mission-critical assets
and threats and hazards used in the MIRR's vulnerability assessment.
Ms. Payne reviewed additional threats and hazards that are policy issues for the City and will not be
addressed through Department of War funding. Under personnel stresses, she identified lack of
attainable housing, lack of childcare, regulatory requirements, drones (UAVs), and lack of funding for
school transportation. Under encroachment, she identified light pollution, land development, airspace
congestion, and threatened and endangered species. Ms. Payne reviewed existing Mutual Support
Agreements among the regional installations and local governments and presented recommendations to
expand and strengthen them. Ms. Payne reviewed the MIRR's approach to developing its project list.
She emphasized starting conversations with various partners, such as JEA, given its role in supporting
the regional military installations through its infrastructure.
Ms. Payne reviewed the MIRR's next steps, including identifying and recommending Mutual Support
Agreements, developing a project priority list with implementation timeline and funding and financing
toolkit, issuing a final report, and establishing ongoing partnerships.
CM Pittman asked whether bridges, ships, and major equipment are included in the MIRR's process.
Ms. Payne responded that the MIRR has examined the vulnerability of transportation networks at Naval
Station Mayport and Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, noting that this is a well-studied area
given prior work by the TPO and the University of Georgia. She stated that the bridges in those areas
are not a significant concern, except operationally during major storms. She stated that the MIRR has
