• Mayor John Peyton told the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission that his ongoing examination of the commission is focusing on “whether we are doing our job in the most efficient way.” Peyton wondered whether the JEDC spends “too much on staff and not enough on incentives,” and said he wanted to remove obstacles to critical thinking from commissioners and staff. Since taking office last summer, Peyton has been looking for ways to streamline the commission.
• City Council member Art Graham says he worried the proposed River City Marketplace, a $300 million retail, industrial, entertainment and residential development envisioned for the Northside, would siphon business away from another shopping center that receives incentives. “We’ve taken three steps forward with Gateway (Mall); let’s not take two steps back. I don’t want to look back 10 years from now and realize we cut the legs out from under it.”
• Despite her coffee business’ recent merger, JEDC managing director Kirk Wendland said he thinks commissioner Susan Hartley can still look out for small business. “She’s still a small businesswoman at heart, although she’s now the head of a major coffee conglomeration,” kidded Wendland.
• Good news and bad news for City Council vice president Elaine Brown. The good: she has 13 signed endorsements for her Council presidency bid. The bad: Brown fell at a friend’s house over the weekend and broke her hip. She had surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital Monday afternoon, and though “comfortable,” according to her husband, Neptune Beach mayor Dick Brown. A stint in a physical rehabilitation clinic is expected.
• At a meeting of the Jacksonville Film Festival Monday afternoon, organizers discussed where they would like to hold a premier party. Several locations were discussed, but the group expressed strong interest in securing a prominent Bay Street venue for the mid-May event
• Reminder: the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Casino Night is Saturday at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. For details, call the Bar office at 399-4486.
• Also upcoming: the Ralph W. Nimmons Jr. CLE Seminar Feb. 26 at the U.S. Courthouse at Jacksonville. Panels of district, magistrate and bankruptcy judges and local federal practitioners will discuss several topics, including the use of technology, discovery issues and the ABC’s of federal practice — the bench vs. the bar.
• The Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art is now open on Thursday night until 9 p.m., and will begin hosting wine tastings in March. The weekly wine tastings will continue on Wednesday through February.
• The Magnificat Cafe will add cappuccino to its morning menu, starting this week.
• It’s Homecoming week at the University of North Florida, which includes the inauguration of President John Delaney Friday at 10 a.m. There’s also an Alumni Reunion Happy Hour Friday at the Landing from 5:30-6:30 p.m.