• City Council member Suzanne Jenkins announced the lineup Tuesday for a special Community Committee that will review the merits of having a downtown entertainment zone with alcohol sales until 4 a.m. The committee will be chaired by consultant and former Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Audrey Moran. Other members include attorney Bob Rhodes, The Clara White Mission’s Ju’Coby Pittman, Undersheriff Frank Mackesy and Bailey Publishing’s Jim Bailey. Jenkins said she would like the group to have compiled and reviewed all of the necessary information before mid-June.
• The deadline to submit a development proposal for the Haydon Burns Library is today. Potential plans should be released soon.
• City Council member Pat Lockett-Felder will not become the City’s first African-American female mayor after all, but the consolation prize isn’t too bad. Under the City’s chain of command rules, Lockett-Felder was to be mayor Thursday through Sunday (Mayor John Peyton, Council Prez Elaine Brown and Council VP Kevin Hyde were all slated to be out of town.) But Lockett-Felder got a plum assignment — she’s going to Paris on behalf of the City. Who will be the mayor? Hyde. He’ll stay in town except for a brief day trip.
• Speaking of Lockett-Felder, she took part in Paint the Town on Tuesday, so if she has a little sky blue paint still on her, that’s why.
• An amendment to the city’s fishing ordinance is working its way through the legislative process. Currently, there is a fuzzy line between recreational and commercial fishing from City-owned property. Apparently, commercial fishing is a no-no, but recreational fishing is OK. Under the new code, “no fishing” will mean just that.
• Elections chief Jerry Holland has put in a request for a new vehicle for his office to the tune of $32,000. Says it will be more suitable for transporting supplies and equipment. The money would come from the Election’s Office’s general fund postage account.
• Film Festival founder Joan Monsky gets the dais at Friday morning’s Downtown Council meeting at the River City Brewing Company.
• Speaking of bridges, a group wanting to retain the old Fuller Warren Bridge as a fishing pier gather this evening at 6 on the Northbank Riverwalk under the new bridge for a rally.
• It’s official: The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has hired Lauri-Ellen Smith as a full time special assistant to Sheriff John Rutherford. You’ll recall the JSO announced a while back that Smith was to fill a temporary position responsible for Super Bowl-related issues.
• Sports agent Michael Huyghue, whose offices are in Independent Square, has landed two players who were drafted in the top 10 of the recent NFL draft.