• Clear Channel Communications, the promoters for the upcoming Britney Spears concert, is being tight-lipped on how many tickets have been sold for the show. Reports from the arena’s box office are that “sales are going OK,” but no specific numbers are being released. Clear Channel declined any comment on ticket sales, saying those numbers will be released after the concert. Lucy Voss of SMG, which manages the arena, said, regardless of ticket sales, the show will go on.
• The old Barnett Bank Building was set to be reviewed for a landmark designation at last week’s Historic Preservation Commission meeting, but it was deferred until the commission’s May meeting. There was also speculation that the landmark designation application may be withdrawn.
• American Enterprise Bank of Florida has completed its initial stock offering by raising $8.8 million. The bank has also received conditional approval from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation and the FDIC, and is scheduled to open in early March at Southpoint.
• Before the City Council agenda meeting two weeks ago, Council president Lad Daniels said he was tired of bills being filed and added to the agenda at the last minute and it needed to stop. Someone must have listened because the number of late additions at the agenda meeting this week dropped from over 120 to just four.
• To help offset costs for an upcoming Hot Air Balloon Festival later this year, the Children’s Medical Network will likely ask for a $5,000 grant from the Duval County Tourist Development Commission. CMN director Amy Davis said the group couldn’t guarantee “a lot of heads in beds” — usually a major factor in securing TDC funds — though she promised the event would be “great for the community.”
• Though she didn’t get a ticket to the game, City Council member Pat Lockett-Felder boarded a plane for Houston last week so she could observe Super Bowl activities. Lockett-Felder previously had words with Council president Lad Daniels over who should attend the game because her district includes much of the area that will be affected when the Super Bowl comes to Jacksonville. However, Daniels took the ticket for himself, saying because he chairs the Tourist Development Council and has more business experience, he would be a better representative. No word on how Lockett-Felder financed the trip, but it appears unlikely the City will pick up the tab.
• Mayor John Peyton and several City Council members are planning to meet Thursday to discuss the Main Street Improvement Project, which has been halted because of a lack of funding.
• Workers at the Desert Rider on Hogan Street had a mess to clean up this morning. Burglars broke the store’s front door over the weekend.
• JEA will begin work this month on installing twin pipes from its chilled water plant that will provide service to the new Main Library and Duval County Courthouse. Traffic on Duval Street will be disrupted while the pipes are being installed.