• City Council auditor Richard Wallace sent notice last week that he plans to retire from the City after more than 20 years of service. Wallace, who replaced longtime auditor Bob Johnson, should be gone before the end of the year.
• Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton takes issue with the perception that there’s no parking downtown. “We have plenty of parking downtown,” he said last week. “Surface parking, structure parking, meter parking, it’s available at all price points.” The JEDC will start looking for ways to use public transportation to make lots on downtown’s perimeter more accessible.
• One area where the City would like to add parking, however, is around the Bay Street Towncenter. Additional spaces could help spur retail activity the reasoning goes. The JEDC has been in talks with landowners in the area about putting some land together to build a lot or garage, but it hasn’t found any interested sellers yet.
• The calendar only recently turned to fall, but management at the Landing already has its eyes on Christmas. Staffers were on a scouting trip last weekend to Sugar Mountain, N.C. to pick out the downtown mall’s Christmas tree, which will be on public display in the courtyard. Early reports are that the tree is 50 feet tall.
• Howard Dean’s local fund-raising appearance is back on. The Democratic National Committee chairman will appear Nov. 18 at the Jefferson-Jackson Reception at the Haskell offices at 111 Riverside Ave. Dean’s previous visit was postponed so as not to compete with Hurricane Katrina fund-raising. Gubernatorial candidates Jim Davis, Scott Maddox and Rod Smith will also appear along with state party chairwoman Karen Thurman. Tickets are $50. Tickets for the previously-scheduled event will be honored. Call 721-9805 for details.
• A familiar face is leaving City Hall. Vicki Crosby, a security guard in the lobby, is moving to Texas to help with the Hurricane Rita recovery efforts.
• The Folio Weekly poll results are in and one is of particular note. Downtown Vision Inc.’s Ambassadors were voted the best example of Southern hospitality in Jacksonville.
• City Council member Elaine Brown has scheduled a special meeting of the Economic, Community and International Development Committee for today. Topic of discussion: Legislation that would amend the scope of several Better Jacksonville Plan road projects.
• Attorneys in the State Attorney’s Office are up in arms over the rate increase at the Yates Parking garage on Adams Street. Due to budget restraints, the cost to park in the City-owned garage skyrocketed from $32 a month to more than $80. City employees get a discount, but the attorneys don’t and so far more than a dozen have written letters to City Hall in hopes something can be done.