• Awaiting a new Request for Proposals for the Marble Bank, Florida Life and Bisbee buildings, developer Mike Langton recently began working with architect Bob Broward, formerly a protege of Henry Klutho. Currently drafting designs, Langton said he soon plans to reveal his vision for the three historic buildings.
• Those participating in an upcoming citywide “Clean it Up/Green it up” campaign will be rewarded for their efforts. Taking place two weeks prior to the Super Bowl, each volunteer — at least 4,000 are expected — will be given a commemorative pin for their efforts. Budgeted cost of the pins: $10,000, which is money City Council member Daniel Davis thinks could be better spent. “It seems like for that kind of money, you could hire a couple of guys in garbage trucks to go around and pick up trash,” said Davis.
• The mayor’s staff is finding you don’t have to sacrifice fashion for security. Director of Written Communications Susan Pelter has offered to make chic lanyards for their security badges. New security in the mayor’s office means the staff has to wear their ID badges at all times.
• Former mayor’s office City Council liaison Michelle Querry has joined former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris’ bid for congress. Querry accepted a position as finance director for Harris, one of the central figures of the State’s 2000 presidential election standoff.
• According to the JEDC’s numbers, downtown’s residential population has been in a slow, steady decline since 1970, when more than 16,600 people called the area home. By 1980, the number had dropped to 11,300, by 2000 the population had dropped to just under 10,000, where it has remained. The City is hoping to build 10,000 housing units downtown to attract more residents. Currently there are about 3,000 built or under construction.
• The Jags and the Florida Georgia Blood Alliance are teaming up to give fans free tickets to the Jaguars first home preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bloodmobiles will be at Alltel Stadium between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday. The first 90 people who register to donate blood will receive a voucher for two free tickets to the game.
• Mark Miller, formerly a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Henry Adams, has joined the General Counsel’s Office. He’ll work in the Litigation Department.