• The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners has asked City Council President Ronnie Fussell to vote against the proposed ordinance that would favor local companies seeking City-funded jobs. Commission Chair Cyndi Stevenson, on behalf the whole Commission, said the bill would be “counter productive to the current business climate within the Northeast Florida region.”
• Speaking of Fussell, he’s been invited by State Senate President Jeff Atwater to sit on the recently-created Senate Select Committee of Florida’s Economy. The committee will focus on helping the economy by creating incentives that promote growth and ensure government transparency.
• According to Mike Harrell of CB Richard Ellis, a private parking garage operator/investor is interested in obtaining City-owned parking garages Downtown, particularly the Water Street garage.
• The big 20-page story on Jacksonville in Southwest Airlines’ Spirit magazine is out. It was written by local writer Devan Stuart and according to Visit Jacksonville President and CEO, the magazine is available on 3,300 Southwest flights a day. Reyes says this month 3.1 million people will have access to the story.
• The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is working on what it calls a “scope review session” for possible renovations to Friendship Fountain on the Southbank. Others involved include Sam Mousa of JB Coxwell Planning & engineering and an urban planner from New York City.
• There’s an invite-only tour of the Federal Reserve building on Water Street set for Feb. 24. There are about 35,000 square feet of space available for rent in the building.
• According to the latest list released by the City, there are 88 lobbyists registered with the City. They include former mayors Jake Godbold and John Delaney and former State Rep. Dick Kravitz. The lobbyist with the most clients is attorney Paul Harden with 56.
• If you’d like a crack at being a member of the Jaguars cheerleading team, the ROAR, start practicing. The deadline to register for auditions is Feb. 27. For more, go to jaguars.com.
• Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed two locals, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce chair Mike Hightower and Deno Hicks, Florida Division president of BCR Environmental, to the Republican Party of Florida State Executive Committee. Crist also tapped Hicks to serve a term on the Fourth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission through June 30, 2011.
• The Jacksonville Historical Society and Heartland Hospice have joined forces to offer hot coffee, newspapers from around the country and jazz every Sunday at sunrise. Dubbed “Every Day is a Gift!” the event is headquartered at the society’s museum on the Southbank Riverwalk east of the Main Street Bridge. Free parking is available at the Museum of Science and History.
• The economy didn’t appear to affect people’s appetites for Super Bowl parties. Southside Alehouse and Raw Bar had about 280 people on Sunday for a $50 deal that included reserved seating, all-you-could eat and drink and Super Bowl giveaways. Steelers fan stronghold Chicago Pizza and Sports Grille offered a similar special and hosted about 170 people. Twisted Martini at the Landing offered a $25 all-you-could-eat-and-drink special, which attracted about 200 people to the bar’s first Super Bowl viewing party.
• Mayor John Peyton’s Book Club members and their families are invited to attend “The Great Outdoor Adventure Tree Festival” from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. There will be a planting ceremony, guided nature hikes and entertainment. Each attendee will receive a free tree seedling to plant at home courtesy of Smurfit-Stone and Advanced Disposal Services. The arboretum, a 15-acre nature preserve maintained by the City and volunteers, is in Arlington at 1445 Millcove Rd., off Monument Road near the 9A overpass.