• City Council President Kevin Hyde apparently wants a little more face time from his colleagues in the year ahead. Hyde has arranged to have a special Council meeting on the first Wednesday of every month where “open dialogue and discussion” may take place. Additionally, on the second and fourth Mondays, the Council’s eight committee chairs will meet to discuss other issues. If you happen to show up at any of these luncheon meetings, be advised to bring a snack. Food is only provided to the Council.
• Parking policies along Herschel Street in Avondale may change just a bit. The Florida Department of Transportation released word this week that signs denoting parking restrictions may be installed near St. Johns and San Juan Avenues later this year.
• A follow up to a City Note we ran last week about the City Council offices having new software installed on its computers to allow for a real time look at meetings in the Council chambers: The public won’t have the same access for some time. The software is only being used on a trial basis for now and Council director Cheryl Brown said it would be some time before it could expand to include anyone outside of City Hall. However, meetings may eventually be broadcast on the City’s website in the future, she said.
• Another traffic light on Atlantic Boulevard coming soon. It’s at the Hawkins Cove subdivision, just west of Kernan Boulevard.
• Three local kids organizations are joining forces. The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation and Hope Haven Children’s Services will make the partnership official at ceremony Aug. 18 at the Emmett Reed Community Center on West 6th Street.
• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Power of Partnerships campaign is near its goal of raising $250,000. They are down to needing just over $19,000. Not surprisingly, campaign chair Leerie Jenkins and his team are leading the way with over $25,000 more raised than their goal.
• It looks like the White House will be getting a little Jacksonville flavor. Justin Ramb, a University of North Florida student who actively volunteered on President George W. Bush’s campaign last year, has accepted an internship in Washington, D.C. Ramb, who was offered the lone public policy internship available, leaves on Sept. 5.
• The USS O’Bannon will be decommissioned during a ceremony at Mayport on Aug. 19 at 10 a.m.