• Monday–Live on www.jaxdailyrecord.com: Watch Mayor John Peyton present the City’s proposed 2009-10 budget to the City Council. Log on at 10 a.m.
• JaxPride is officially on the record via resolution as opposed to the construction of seven mast arm traffic signals as part of the current Bay Street Town Center project. Its president, Oliver Barakat — a commercial real estate broker with CB Richard Ellis — has asked the City to “promptly cease this project” because the mast arms are “not an improvement, but a detraction of the pedestrian-scaled improvements made by the City to increase pedestrian attraction and activity.”
• The Northeast Florida Regional Council is already seeking suggestions for its priorities for the 2010 legislative session. Suggestions are due by Aug. 15 and you need to use the form in the organization’s 2009 legislative priority publication. You can request one by calling 279-0885.
• State Rep. Audrey Gibson is hosting the 7th Annual District 15 Community Picnic Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Metropolitan Park. She’ll be providing a 2009 legislative update as well as information on credit repair and mortgages, unemployment benefits, senior citizen’s services and restoration of rights. Games, music and step teams are also on the agenda. The event is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.
• The City’s Housing and Neighborhoods Department is hosting a workshop for first-time home buyers Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida at 4401 Emerson St. Participants will be processed and may qualify for as much as $8,000 in down payment assistance through a federal tax credit. Registration through an approved City of Jacksonville lender is required. For details visit www.coj.net call 255-8200.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars are offering local businesses free advertising to help increase profits in the current economy. All that’s required is an offer for Jaguars season ticket holders such as “Buy one entrée get a second one 1/2 off” or “25% off of your next dry cleaning bill.” The merchant’s discount will be featured on the team’s Web site along with the company’s logo. A limited number of offers will also be displayed on the video boards at Municipal Stadium during Jaguars home games. To get started go to http://rewards.jaguars.com/CollectMerchantInformation.aspx.
• The third annual “Eat Up Downtown” is set for Aug. 17-23. Several Downtown restaurants are participating in the event that includes three-course meals for $25.
• Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford will lead the 4th Annual “Ride for Justice” to benefit the Justice Coalition June 25 starting at Big Bike Motorcycle on Sunbeam Road. The 50-mile ride to Old Plank Road Baptist Church will be escorted by JSO. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the kick stands will go up at 10 a.m. It’s $25 per bike and $10 per passenger including lunch, raffles and prizes. The ride is limited to 500 bikes so register now at www.justicecoalition.org.
• The JTA Riverplace Skyway station is a few weeks away from construction to repair damage caused by a March 11 fire. The platform between the San Marco and Kings Avenue stops has been closed since the fire, but service to Kings Avenue has continued while JTA has sought bids for the construction.
• People parking at the Kings Avenue public parking garage have been getting a discount on the fare to ride the Skyway. The gate at the end of the covered walkway from the garage charges 35 cents, opposed to the 50 cents charged at all other stops.
• Tuesday’s Charter Revision Commission meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
• For the ladies who just have to know more about the intricacies of football, there are three upcoming opportunities before the Jaguars hit the field. NFL 101, a national football educational program for women, has remaining workshops at Jacksonville University (Tuesday), the Jacksonville Zoo (July 21) and Five Points Theatre (July 28), where women can learn everything there is to know about the game from Jaguar players, referees and experts. The workshops run from 7–9 p.m. and cost $30, which includes a 2009 Jaguars home game ticket, NFL workbook, gift and chance to win merchandise. For more information, call Lori Pugh at 398-8179.
• Several local governments have filed suit against Gov. Charlie Crist and other legislators in regards to the recently signed SB 360, which is also known as the Community Renewal Act or commonly referred to as the growth management bill. Led by Weston, Key Biscayne, Cutler Bay, Lee County, Deerfield Beach, Miami Gardens, Fruitland Park and Parkland, the lawsuit claims the bill’s enactment is unconstitutional. The bill’s author, State Sen. Mike Bennett of Bradenton recently was in town as part of a statewide tour to discuss its impact on growth promotion.