• Magellan Academies & Child Development Centers, Inc. is officially out of the Bank of America tower. The center, which was served an eviction notice late last year for failing to pay rent, originally contested the charges and indicated a court hearing may be necessary. However, they quietly moved out last month. Building management has not yet pursued unpaid rent or attorney fees, and declined comment on their next move.
• Mayor’s office spokesperson Susie Wiles says interim Chief Financial Officer Walt Bussells will be going back to JEA at some point but not anytime soon. She said the mayor is “a long way away” from making a decision regarding who will replace Bussells.
• There was a big stir in the courthouse last week: a porn movie star was there for her personal injury suit trial. She won over $700,000.
• New City Chief Operating Officer Dan Kleman’s 10–year tenure as Hillsborough County manager has received the most attention for his squabbles with the County Commission prior to his resignation. However, he says his legacy there should include infrastructure improvement and an improved financial condition. Kleman said the County’s bond ratings went from “near–junk status to Double A rated” under his watch.
• Kleman’s own improved financial prospects drew a tongue–in–cheek tribute from The Tampa Tribune’s editorial page. In addition to his $192,000 salary as Jacksonville’s chief administrator, the paper reported that Kleman will receive $359,000 in severance this year from Hillsborough County, putting him in the “thousand–dollars–a–day club.”
• Folks at the W.A. Knight Building say they can help after reading a recent City Note about a lack of downtown apartment rentals. “By April 1, we’ll have five rentals available and we’re already advertising for them,” said a building representative.
• City Council member Jerry Holland organized a meeting Wednesday to discuss possible revisions for his newly updated Animal Control ordinance. Holland said the bill had plenty of room to make changes but warned those attending that it would take over decade before everyone would be completely satisfied.
• The Landing is making downtown the cool place to be after work by launching High Tide from 5-7:30 p.m., beginning Tuesday. The entertainment happy hour will be held three evenings a week. Tuesday will feature island sounds. Jazz and reggae will be on Wednesday. The River Rally Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival will be each Thursday. The Landing will also continue to have live music every Friday and Saturday night.
• Jacksonville Community Council, Inc.’s Race Relations Task Force has recommended to Mayor John Peyton that the City revise its minority business contracting programs to increase the chances of disadvantaged businesses’ success. JCCI recommended mentoring and apprenticeship programs between established businesses and disadvantaged businesses.