What passed Tuesday marked phase one of the reform plan. In the second phase, the mayor will work closely with department heads to examine the new structure of government for maximum savings and efficiency measures.

In accordance with Ordinance 2005-361-E, the second Committee week and City Council meeting of the month of December are suspended, due to the Holiday Season.  The Jacksonville City Council meeting cycle will resume with Standing Committee meetings on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Decision Comes Less than a Week After Brown Meets with Transportation Secretary

Less than a week after he met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to advocate for the project, Mayor Alvin Brown tonight applauded the federal government’s decision to provide a $10 million grant to JAXPORT.

The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant will supply $10 million to help build an intermodal container transfer facility. This enables freight-loading directly between rail and ships, a development that will help curb truck traffic on Heckscher Drive while increasing efficiency at Jacksonville’s waterfront

Florida Animal Control Association also recognized ACPS volunteer as top in state

The Florida Animal Control Association, the professional association of animal care and control personnel in Florida, named the City of Jacksonville’s Animal Care & Protective Services division as the Outstanding Animal Control Agency of the Year for Florida. ACPS was recognized out of more than 130 agencies as a statewide leader in animal programs and services.

Mayor Calls On Citizens to Give One Hour a Week to Mentor Jacksonville Students

Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown announced today the launch of the Mayor’s Mentors, a public-private partnership to train and place 500 new school-based mentors with Duval County Public School students by April 1 at no cost to taxpayers. The Mayor’s goal is to recruit, train and match mentors with Duval County Public School students to increase on-time, next grade promotion and graduation rates. For more information on becoming a Mayor’s Mentor, the public may call United Way’s 2-1-1 or visit www.coj.net/mayorsmentors.

Holiday Hoops Game with Florida Gators vs. Rider Broncs

The City of Jacksonville welcomes the University of Florida Gators and the Rider University Broncs for their upcoming Holiday Hoops Classic basketball game on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Both team mascots will be available before the game so bring a camera for photo opportunities.

“As mayor, I take seriously my duty to support the Jaguars,” said Brown in his letter. “The City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Jaguars have long been partners in making this a great NFL city. I look forward to continuing that partnership with you as the new team owner.”

The City of Jacksonville’s Adult Services Division, in partnership with Mission Harvest America, Inc., is sending care packages to troops in Afghanistan during the holidays.

Seniors from 19 senior centers have collected toiletries, snacks, phone calling cards, batteries, pens, stationery, crossword puzzles, books, sports and entertainment games, greeting cards and other miscellaneous items in appreciation of our military overseas. Collectively, more than 300 care packages will be distributed to soldiers by Christmas.