• City Council President Daniel Davis has asked three of his Council committee chairs to look into a few points regarding the new stormwater fees. A letter from Davis asks Art Shad (Finance), Warren Jones (Rules) and Richard Clark (Transportation, Energy & Utilities) to “look closely” at the recommendations made by a technical committee formed to examine the implementation of the fees as well as a way to “protect and assist our charitable and faith communities while they solve many of our problems.” Davis also plans to propose an amendment that will increase the stormwater fee credit for 501(c)(3) organizations from 50 percent to 100 percent. According to Davis, those organizations will only contribute $600,000 of the estimated $33 million the fee is expected to generate.
• Fifty more students have graduated from the Clara White Mission’s culinary arts program. They received front-of-house training at Clara’s at the Cathedral Cafe and are among 237 students to graduate since 2003.
• The Duval County teacher of the year will be announced during the April 10 EDDY Awards. The event is at the Osborn Center and is sponsored by the Alliance for World Class Education. Tickets are $45 per person and the attire is black tie optional. For more information, call 237-9303.
• Many people watched President Bush’s final “State of the Union” address Jan. 28, but how many people have a copy of the address? Mayor John Peyton does. Bill Behrens, special assistant to the president and deputy director of intergovernmental affairs, sent Peyton a copy of the 11-and-a-half page address.
• The Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s 2007 annual report is available on line at www.jaa.aero.aboutus/financials.aspx. For a hard copy, e-mail a preferred mailing address to [email protected].
• Speaking of the Aviation Authority, it will officially open the renovated Concourse A at Jacksonville International Airport during a May 9 ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
• Just a reminder: Those interested in the current water withdrawal issues surrounding the St. Johns River may want to head to Seminole County Thursday. Brenda Carey, chair of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners, has invited local officials to an open meeting to discuss ways to use the resource while avoiding litigation. The meeting is at 11 a.m. at the Seminole County Government Building.
• Also Thursday, the Jacksonville Waterways Commission meets at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers.
• A change of command at the Navy Southeast Region is coming. Capt. Matthew Schellhorn is retiring from the United States Navy. The ceremony is March 28 at 11 a.m. at Naval Station Mayport. No word on who will take over for Capt. Schellhorn.
“Americans think of themselves collectively as a huge rescue squad on twenty-four-hour call to any spot on the globe where dispute and conflict may erupt.”
– Eldridge Cleaver, U.S. civil rights leader and writer