• When Jacksonville U. was interviewing candidates for its athletic director post, the committee asked each about his feelings on gender equity. It didn’t hurt Alan Verlander’s chances when he told the committee that, since he had a wife and four daughters at home, he had plenty of people making sure he didn’t favor the men. He got the job.
• The Players Championship’s courtesy cars came via rail from Michigan. All new Buicks; no miles. Now, the challenge is to get them back. Seems some players park them in the airport garage and fly away without telling anyone where they are.
• After hearing Bank of America would not be participating in the City’s Small and Emerging Business program earlier this month, City Council member Mia Jones said she wanted to look into closing the City’s approximately 30 active accounts with the bank. Last week she appeared to be making good on those intentions, determining that the City’s contract with the bank would expire on Dec. 31. However, Jones has yet to file any legislation that would direct the City to close its accounts.
• The San Marco Town Center project continues to gather steam. City Council member Art Shad said plans to overhaul the historic shopping district are being finalized and that an RFP to do the work could be issued in a few months. Work there will not start until major work along Hendricks Avenue wraps up.
• Speaking of San Marco, a study to determine if a railroad quiet zone should be established between Landon and River Oaks roads seems to be pretty popular with landowners in the area. In fact, after reading about it in a City Note we ran last week, one major developer even called City Hall to see if the quiet zone be expanded to include Nira Street.
• New at the City’s Office of Special Events: Sheylla Millian. Formerly with the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission for more than five years, Millian now works to help streamline special event permitting processes. “I’m really enjoying myself in my new position,” Millian said. “But the other day I almost drove over to my old parking space.”
• Two huge groups will be in town early next month. A cheerleading association will bring 3,500 for a “Beach Blast” and the U.S. Volleyball Association has a tournament with over 2,100 coming. They’ll take over most of our hotels.
• The Avenues mall isn’t letting the St. Johns Town Center get all the glitz. They have a big promotion next month that includes TV chef Sara Moulton.
• Just in time for Easter, the fountain at the Jacksonville Landing was dyed purple.
• The Downtown Development Authority is eagerly awaiting the March 29 board meeting of Downtown Vision Inc. That’s when the downtown advocacy group will put together its work program and budget for the next five years. DVI is seeking an extention to its funding, which will expire this year. Approval from the DDA is the first step and DVI will present its case to the board at its April 20 meeting.
• The mayor’s office says it’s not spending any more money on the City’s property tax refund program for service members who drew combat pay in 2004. The City has spent $400,000 so far. But Art Shad, the Council member who conceived the program, would like to see the program funded up to $1 million, if necessary. Shad said the refunds could be cut back next year to keep costs down.
• The City is going to surplus at no cost about a third of an acre of land (it has been assessed at $33,106) at the corner of 8th and Laura to the Westside Church of Christ, the same church that Chief Community Officer Pete Jackson belongs to.
• The Trout River Bridge/I-95 improvements will be an inconvenience for fishermen as well as motorists. The contractor, Hal Jones, intends to use part of Bert Maxwell Park for “stabilization activities” for the next 20 months.