• In voting to expand the City’s Enterprise Zone Thursday, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission had a tough time deciding where to draw the line, literally. Businesses inside the borders of the state-designated zone qualify for a variety of tax incentives and several developers appealed to the commission to draw the boundaries to include their projects. Several commissioners expressed concern about what commissioner Bob Rhodes described as “economic gerrymandering.” City Council member Art Graham expects the lobbying to intensify once the Council takes up the matter.
• The JEDC also voted to require companies that benefit from the Enterprise Zone tax breaks to hire from the surrounding distressed neighborhoods that allow the companies to qualify for the program.
• City Tax Collector Mike Hogan is supporting a bill set to appear before the state legislature that would move local election dates to coincide with state elections. The move would save the local elections office time, effort and money, he said. The bill was requested by Council member Warren Alvarez and sponsored by state Rep. Stan Jordan.
• The Gator Bowl Association committee meeting is Tuesday at the Sawgrass Marriott at 5 p.m.
• Interesting letter to Mayor John Peyton the other day from a resident who supports his early literacy initiative but thinks it falls short in one area: blind children. A copy of the letter in Braille also was sent to stress the importance of including books for the blind in the mayor’s Rally! Jacksonville campaign.
• LandMar sent the City its quarterly financial report per the Shipyards agreement. As of Sept. 30, its parent company — Crescent Resources, LLC — was reporting a little more than $1.5 billion in net assets. That’s up from about $1.3 billion as of Dec. 31, 2004. LandMar is reporting a little more than $23 million in current assets.
• The law firm of Coffman, Coleman, Andrews & Grogan will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a bash at the firm’s Monroe Street offices on Nov. 16. Invite only.
• Though not running from any hurricanes, another big boat will be docking itself downtown today. The C. Columbus, a 472-foot cruise ship, will dock for one day at the city dock beside the Hyatt to let its mostly European passengers get a taste of Northeast Florida.
• Several children attending the Child Development Center at Community Connections’ Florence N. Davis Center got to celebrate Halloween a little early last week. Volunteers from Bank of America showed up Friday afternoon with costumes, party favors, balloons, and cake. Some of the children also went trick-or-treating from desk to desk throughout the center’s administrative offices next door.
• In Thursday’s story about the Chamber’s Leadership trip to Boston, we miscounted the number of City Council members attending. Ten are making the trip to Boston.
• Condolences to Teala Milton of JEA on the passing of her husband, Charlie.